Anakin knew that Obi-Wan was on his way. His old mentor always insisted on a visual check-up whenever they were assigned to missions together and Anakin had refused to reach over and respond when his com-link had gone off.

Instead he was doing a useless check of the ships – nearly all of them – in order to keep busy. The only interesting thing he had found was a minor fuel leak on one of the ships. He was attempting to correct it now and R2-D2 stood alongside him, holding a tray with Anakin's tools.

Beep beep whistle blurb.

"Ahsoka is just fine. She will sulk for awhile and then realize that I am right." Anakin told the astromech droid.

R2 replied with a low whistle.

"No R2, I'm not going to talk to her. What would be the point? She'll just argue with me." Anakin replied.

Blurb whistle beep beep blurb.

"I am not grumpy!" Anakin protested, pulling his head out from under the lid of the panel and banging his forehead. A huttese curse escaped him.

R2 trilled, which sounded something like a laugh.

Anakin sighed. "Okay maybe I am grumpy, but I have every right to be. Ahsoka is going to get me in trouble too if she doesn't shape up."

He could suddenly sense Obi-Wan striding down the hanger bay towards him. Anakin shut the lid on the panel he had been inspecting. "Kind of like how you got me in trouble?" Obi-Wan asked "Are all the ships in that bad of a condition that you couldn't answer my hails?" Obi-Wan smiled down at R2 who greeted him with a few beeps.

"Master, I don't know what to do with Ahsoka, she's been so difficult lately." Anakin admitted.

"She's young yet Anakin, and she's not been your apprentice very long. Don't you remember how difficult our first year was together?"

"I thought that was just because of Qui-Gon and my lack of training." Anakin said softly. He noticed Obi-Wan's eyes grew dark at the mention of his old mentor. It still hurt some after all this time.

"All mentors and Padawan's have a few rough patches, just give it time. Besides, I hear your last mission was a success."

"Yeah, after she nearly got the prince killed." Anakin said.

"Anakin, you are the last one to talk about getting people killed." Obi-Wan said, a playful gleam in his eye.

"Well then Master, perhaps you can try being Ahsoka's mentor for this mission."

"Anakin, it's a simple negotiation, what could go wrong?"
"Doesn't it always go wrong?"

"Don't jinx us. Things will be fine. The Separatists think we're heading in the opposite direction anyway, we even set up a fake meeting with a planetary ruler."

"I hope that ruler knows it's a trick." Anakin said.

"Of course."

"Well, I'm just asking. I remember you planning a negotiation that the leader wasn't even notified of our arrival." Anakin smirked.

Obi-Wan glared. "You and Ahsoka belong together Anakin, after all, she can be a lot like you. And if I have to go through training you again I'll go insane." He put a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"But you are better suited to handle her." Anakin said.

"Oh, you think I was well suited to train you when I accepted you as my Padawan? Anakin, I don't regret it, but I had to make sacrifices and suffer a good deal to mentor you. Just because you have hit a rough spot with Ahsoka doesn't mean that you should just give her up." Obi-Wan was firm and R2 whistled in agreement.

Anakin sent his two friends a look. "But what if this doesn't work?" He asked.

"Are you simply afraid of failing Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No, I'm afraid of failing her." Anakin finally hissed.

R2 blew raspberries at him.

Anakin sighed. "I'm not being ridiculous R2!"

Obi-Wan was grinning and his eyes shone. "But you are, Anakin, by acting out of fear you will let your fear come to pass."

Anakin paused, taken aback by Obi-Wan's cleverness. "But Master…"

"But nothing. Go on, go talk to her." Obi-Wan ordered.

Anakin glared. "No."

R2 sent a few sparks in his direction. Obi-Wan laughed as Anakin backed up a step. "Anakin, I might not be the wisest about these sort of things, but I don't think R2 will take no for an answer." Obi-Wan said.

Anakin narrowed his eyes "Fine you two win." He said, turning around and walking towards his apprentice's room. He knocked, wondering what to say.

"Come in." He heard Ahsoka's reluctant sigh follow the invitation.

"Ahsoka." He greeted, stepping into the room.

She looked over at him from where she lay on the bed.

"Master? Or are you giving me away?" Ahsoka asked

"Get that out of your head." Anakin ordered. "I'm not going to give up on you."

Ahsoka sighed and looked away. "Well, that's a surprise."

Anakin sat on the bed. "Yeah I used to think the same thing about my mentor."

Ahsoka glanced back at him. "He's said you two had fights."

"All the time." Anakin replied with a grin. "But he never gave up on me, and I won't give up on you." He put a hand on her arm. "You're my Padawan. I don't always like your choices, but giving up on you won't solve anything. I'm not a quitter. And I like the challenge."

Ahsoka smiled at him. "Really?"

"Yes." Anakin said. "I promise. I know we will never see completely eye to eye, but as long we are doing our best, I know we can do this."

They heard a few excited whistles and turned around to see R2 watched them.

"Yes, I did it R2." Anakin said, shooting his droid a look.

Ahsoka got up and hugged him. "What a good droid you have Master."

"That he is, that he is indeed."