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Spying on her master was probably not a good idea.

Okay, it wasn't a good idea, but she had already followed him out of the Temple and halfway through the city, so there was no point in turning back now. She was just curious—he was gone a lot at night these days, sometimes not for long and sometimes until the early morning. He would slip back into their quarters and quietly go back to his room, and Ahsoka would pretend she didn't see him.

It's not that she thought he was doing anything bad. She trusted him. But it was odd, his disappearances. And he wouldn't know she followed him; she would make sure of that. It wasn't hard to jump from rooftop to rooftop, scaling the upper levels up the buildings in Coruscant while he walked below. He seemed distracted, and had left in a hurry tonight, making more noise than usual. It was a wonder he never thought he would wake her up.

It was around midnight, and although the day had been long Ahsoka was left restless. She and Anakin had sat (or stood, more likely) through various Jedi Council meetings and Senate proceedings. Senator Amidala had spoken at it, and Ahsoka noticed that her master had paid more attention than usual and didn't look quite as miserably bored as he usually did. She had always liked Padme, and having multiple missions with her over the last year or so had strengthened the affinity even more so. Especially after nearly dying from the blue shadow virus together—near-death experiences really bring people together, Ahsoka thought dryly. Unlike many other senators, Padme was sincere and genuine. She also really seemed to care about Ahsoka, not regarding her as inferior or childish. She always greeted the Padawan and had normal conversations with her.

Ahsoka knew Anakin and the senator were close. She also knew that he looked at her with something other than friendship—Obi-Wan had probably noticed it too. Her master definitely had a crush on Padme, but Ahsoka had never mentioned it. It wasn't that big of a deal.

Well, she was not expecting her midnight-stalker adventure to lead her to the Senator's home.

She watched, eyes wide, as he glanced around surreptitiously before entering the towering, gleaming building. What was he doing here? He wasn't assigned to be her security this time, and there weren't any pressing diplomatic issues hanging in the air at the moment. The Senate meeting had been concluded today and most of the other senators were headed home.

Ahsoka waited a minute, debating. Before she knew it she was swinging down to ground level and entering the sliding glass doors. The guards, recognizing her and assuming she was with her master, nodded and she crept past them, heart pounding. She stopped outside the large kitchen and seating room in the dark hallway and listened intently. Yes, she felt a little bad. Getting caught now would be embarrassing, and he would be angry.

The voices were quiet, but her hearing was sharper than humans' and she caught most of it. Terms of endearment were definitely being exchanged…why? This was so incredibly bizarre.

"I missed you so much, Ani. I feel like I never see you anymore."

"I know. They've been keeping Ahsoka and I busy. The war's picking up."

"You two work so hard," Padme sighed. "Maybe one day…"

"After the war is over. We could…tell the Council, maybe. They might be okay with it."

"But not now," she said solemnly, not a question.

"They've been so strict recently. They would throw me out if they found out."

"Maybe not. You're one of the best there."

"Maybe not," he agreed, "but maybe. And I don't want to risk that or risk you. I don't want to put Ahsoka or Obi-Wan through that."

Ahsoka's head spun. So they were definitely a thing. But how much of a thing? Just dating? Engaged? How long? Why hadn't Anakin trusted her with this information? She was relieved he wouldn't tell the Council until after the war and relieved he thought of her, but slightly stung that he had never told her anything. It's not like she was going to go run and tell Master Yoda, but she had to at least tell her master she knew and get some answers.

The conversation continued, but she had heard enough and knew she had to beat him back to their quarters. She stopped by the guards and gave them her best "innocent, cute little Padawan" impression. "My Master doesn't like when I'm out past curfew, but I just wanted to help make sure he reached the Senator safely and that nobody followed him. Could you, maybe, not mention that I was here?" Add a little Force persuasion, and they smiled knowingly.

Ahsoka dashed out the door and down the streets, heart pounding. She had just discovered a secret that could get her master expelled from the order if anyone found out. A secret that he'd hidden from her. The Jedi Code required her to report it. The Jedi Code forbade attachments. Yet she knew Anakin was nearly equally attached to her, and her to him. She was probably guilty of forming attachments too. And he was happy. She saw how happy the Senator made him. Reporting it would shatter everything. She would lose her master.

No, reporting it wasn't even a possibility. She could never do that to Anakin or Padme and live with herself after.

But she did plan on getting what information she could.

—

For about a week, Ahsoka managed not to say anything. But she was antsy, and Anakin snuck out three more times. She didn't need to follow him anymore; she knew what he was up to now. But pretending like she didn't know made her impatient. She hated playing dumb.

The following week, as they were getting ready to attend a Senate meeting (boooring), Anakin made some comment about Padme and her security.

Ahsoka suppressed a sly grin and casually said, "I wonder if Senator Amidala knows you have a crush on her?"

Anakin froze mid-sentence, stunned for a second. "I—ur—uh…" It was more panicked than she had anticipated, not embarrassment or annoyance. He took a deep breath and regained his composure. "Attachments are forbidden, Snips. I don't know where you got that idea. The Senator is a friend."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes with her back turned as she finished making her bed. A second lie, this one right to her face. "I mean, she's pretty. I can see—"

"Ahsoka, drop it, please." His voice was tight. "That's disrespectful to me and the Senator. You're accusing me of breaking the Code."

She had to stop herself from shouting but you are! "I apologize, Master." For doing nothing wrong. For accepting your lies. It hurt, knowing the truth. She wished that maybe she hadn't found out.

Nothing good ever happens after midnight, she thought ruefully.

She bit her tongue and followed him silently to the session, lost in thought. She barely noticed Anakin nudging her when it was finally done. She distractedly picked at her meal in the mess hall.

What should she do? She was so conflicted. Tell him and risk his further anger? Ruin his relationship and happiness by doing what she technically was required as a Jedi to do? Break the Code?

It wasn't until she went to visit Padme a few days later to deliver a message from the Council that her marriage suspicions were confirmed. She knocked gently on the open doorframe to announce her presence, and the senator whirled around, startled. Ahsoka saw her quickly and casually sweep a glint of metal off her left hand and stow it away.

"Ahsoka! You surprised me!" She looked flustered, and Ahsoka knew it had been a ring. She forced a smile and continued the entire visit like she hadn't seen anything. Like this news wasn't a really big deal.

But she couldn't hold it in another week. She needed answers, needed an explanation, and was simmering in confusion and distress. The only place they were truly alone were their quarters, and that was where she spilled it as they were about to leave for breakfast.

"You've been awfully quiet recently, Snips. Something on your mind?" he asked, pulling his gloves on.

Ahsoka scoffed as she belted her lightsabers. "That's funny you should ask. Yes, actually." Her stiff tone made him stop and look at her.

"Is everything—"

"I know about you and Padme, Master," she said accusingly, and it was like a weight off her shoulders. Anakin was once again openmouthed, lost for words, and she could've heard a pin drop in their quarters. The terror in his face was unchecked and she could feel his panic through their bond. Angry, she pushed the bond away and crossed her arms.

"Ahsoka…" He ran a hand through his hair, breathing heavily. "I—how? What—?"

"Do you really think I sleep that soundly all the time? That I wasn't ever going to notice you sneaking out? I followed you last week, and it wasn't even hard. And then after when I tried to bring it up you lied right to my face."

"Look, Snips—"

"I'm not an idiot, Master. I didn't really take you for one, either."

"I understand if you tell the Council," Anakin resigned. Somehow this stung her even more.

"Do you think I'm that blindly loyal to the Council that I would betray you without a second thought?" Ahsoka burst out. "Why the hell would I do that? Don't you think I care more about you than that? I'm not going to tell the Council, for Force sake. But it's not fair for you to put me in that position."

Her master sagged in relief. "Ahsoka, I'm so sorry. I can honestly explain."

"I'm not done," she said tightly. "How could you do all this behind my back? Behind Obi-Wan's back and everyone else who trusts you with their life? You lied to me so many times and you didn't think to ever tell me what was going on?"

"I couldn't! I didn't know how. I didn't know how you'd react."

She threw her hands up. "And you thought I was too dumb to catch on."

"I didn't!" he argued. "I figured this conversation would happen sooner or later. I was just avoiding thinking about it."

"Do you not trust me or something?" she finally shouted. "You're such a liar!"

"There are some things you don't understand yet—"

"Argh! I'm not a youngling! This could literally get you expelled from the Order!"

"It's a risk I was willing to take when I married her! I don't regret it!" His voice rose defensively. "How do I know what else you're lying to me about? Just friends. Sure."

"I'm not lying about anything else and I'm never going to lie to you ever again, Ahsoka," he said, exhausted. His voice was honest and sad. "I made a mistake, alright? I shouldn't have snapped at you earlier this week. I didn't want to put you in the position of having that knowledge because you're supposed to turn me in if that happens. I would be forcing you to make an awful choice and asking you to break the Code. I don't think you're stupid at all, or you wouldn't be my apprentice in the first place."

She stood silently, absorbing it before finally glancing up at him. "She makes you happy, Master. I get it. I want that for you. I just…next time don't lie, okay? And don't get caught. If you got kicked out I wouldn't have a master."

"Is that what this is about?" he inquired, feeling her fear. "I would never leave you, Snips. Not ever. Okay?" Ahsoka met his eyes cautiously, and it struck him yet again that she wasn't a youngling but she was still young, a teenager fighting an adult's cruel war that had forced her to grow up too fast. He was all she had, really.

She smiled, finally. "Okay."

"Good."

"Does this mean you're going to have kids sometime?"

Anakin choked. "What? Force, I don't want to think about that yet. Besides, I don't need more little kids to keep track of."

"Hey!" She cried, punching him.

He laughed. "Race you to breakfast?"

"And I'm the little kid here?" she yelled after him as they broke into a run. "I am so going to beat you."