Chapter Three

Ahsoka had, as everyone thought, gotten back into the swing of things pretty easily. As promised Master Yoda contacted the Jensaarai and their council came and met with her in one of the temple's meditation spires. They met with her, talked with her, asked her questions, and unanimously agreed she should be one of them, she toured the temple with their grand master as he asked if she wished to be knighted by them and the Jedi, such a ceremony hadn't been done but he felt as though ensuring her connections with the Jedi were still strong. Ahsoka had agreed to the terms happily and they made plans for her knighting ceremony once she returned from her planetary mission with Anakin.

Which happened to be Felucia, seemed fitting she thought as she looked over the holo table. She Anakin, Rex, and Admiral Yularen where putting together battle plans, flight paths, base locations, pretty much anything and everything you could think of while they were in light speed.

Rex however wasn't paying attention; he was watching her –bucket on of course- watching her talk, make plans. He kept thinking back to what she said, what she told him.

"You're all different, you all look different… you're not the same to me. You're each an individual."
"I mean it Rex," her voice was soft,

Of course she meant he, he kept telling himself that, he kept longing to feel her hand against his face again; its gentle pressure and weight a comfort he didn't know he wanted until now. But what did it mean… why was she telling him that he was different… because he needed to hear it? Maybe… but he hoped it was something else, he still swore she was blushing but in the low lighting he couldn't tell for sure. He was still making a mental list of the emotions he saw connected to her Lekku. He had been thinking about it nonstop, he hadn't seen much of her, a little here and there but she was mostly running around and spending all of her time in the Temple archives, he only knew that because Anakin had told him on many occasions he found her there in the middle of the night dead asleep over one of the readers. And sure enough, he had gone to collect her this morning from the Senator's apartment but she had said the Togrutan woman had left for the temple. Thus Rex went there and he couldn't go actually get her, Clones weren't allowed in the Archives. Which lead the man to finding a Jedi to go and retrieve the woman.

He noted how she had looked when she walked up to him, she seemed refreshed, a smile graced her features when she spotted him, regardless of the late nights maybe all of this reading was good for her. She told him about this knighting ceremony and he had half a mind to ask if he could come however, he knew it wasn't allowed, part of him wished it was, something she'd been trying so hard to achieve since the day he'd met her only later for her to give it up and now, now she was accepting it under her own terms.

Now here she was, making battle plans and he watched her, listened to her, watched the way she gestured at the models listened to what the other General and Admiral said in response, he watched her work and couldn't help but smile from behind the helmet.

"Captain what do you think?" It was Yularen who asked first and Rex stepped forward.

"I think it's a great plan, very little in the way of flaws maybe…" he gestured to a model and moved a group of clones over "Adding this would ensure we aren't flanked from behind, Felucia is a pretty complex territory."

"That's a good idea…" Ahsoka noted perfectly comfortable with practically leaning over the holo table. The conversation from there continued until Ahsoka and Rex went down and did a walkthrough of the hanger bays. Ahsoka inspected her fighter making sure things were all in the right order and rex had to look away, he didn't have a bucket on he couldn't just be openly staring at his General. Ahsoka greeted R7-A7 happily and made sure he was set for their mission as well. It was two parts, it always was, blockade and then land party. Ahsoka would be leading the fighters to break through the blockade and then catch up with Anakin and Rex later on the ground.

"You don't fly do you Captain?" Ahsoka jested and he scoffed

"I fly I just don't pilot," he corrected her "Then again I've seen you and General Skywalker pilot… Maybe I ought to learn." He smirked Ahsoka feigned a hurt expression putting her hand against her chest.

"Me a reckless pilot, I'd never." She laughed and Rex found himself wanting to hear that sound again. She looked over the data pad checking the roster and then checking over each Clone's ship.

"How many are on Blue Squadron now?" she asked and Rex walked up next to her.

"It's not called Blue Squadron, we uh…" he scratched the back of his head "Stopped using that one when you left on your sabbatical." Rex stated and Ahsoka looked at him curiously

"So what's it called now?" she asked with a slight raise of an eye marking.

"Akul Squadron…" he said it rather quietly but watched her face shift to confusion, shock, and finally happiness.

"You guys…" she saw a group of her pilots standing around and Rex watched as she almost skipped over to them before embracing them into a giddy group hug. Rex smiled walking over to them.

"It seemed only fitting." One admitted and Ahsoka smiled.

"Remember Ahsoka, you have to make a path so we can get through." Anakin reminded her from the bridge watching as her fighters exited the ships, he put his squadron with her own to double her numbers.

"Don't you worry Skyguy I'll be on the surface with you before your feet even touch." She jested and started off. "Akul and Gold Squadron's check in." she ordered as Rex stood at the holo map watching the blips on the radar as their coms filled the bridge with their check-ins and soon conversation about the battle.

They watched the battle from the safety of the bridge firing from the cruiser when needed. Ahsoka's orders were clear, the responses when necessary. It seemed like all was going very well, Rex watched them, from the map and the view window, he watched his other general looking almost giddy at how well she was doing.

"Alright boys light up those ships and that command base." She gave the other and as the bombs collided with their targets Anakin gave the order to prepare the landing party.

"General Tano we'll see you on the surface." Rex comed her before he got on the gunship, he heard her laugh along with some of the other clones.

"Not if I see you first Captain." She jested "Alright boys head back to the ship, try and relax but stay on standby in case this goes to hell." Ahsoka ordered and chorus of 'you got it sir' and 'yes sir' echoed her as she headed to the planet's surface. She saw the gunships leaving the cruisers and stayed at the rear of them just in case anything happened. She approached the atmosphere and broke off from the grouping.

"Hey R7, when we get closer I'm going to open the hatch and jump out, you get the ship back safe to the cruiser okay?" she asked and was met with a myriad of noises. "No it's not showing off its keeping my word." She said back and continued flying; she saw the doors of Anakin's gunship open as he neared the surface and popped open the hatch of her fighter. "Alright R7, take us down a little lower…" she paused standing on the top of her ship giving a smirk to Anakin. "Just a little lower…" she looked at Rex. "Alright this is perfect, thanks R7 take the ship back." She said and launched herself off of the fighter doing a flip and landing in a crouched position a few feet in front of where Anakin's gunship started its landing.

"You know I think you learned too much from me." He admitted and she rolled her eyes as she stood up.

"You mean I'm perfecting everything I learned from you." She bantered and it was now Anakin's turn to roll his eyes. They got up did a quick check of the area and their men before doing a final survey of the battle and they were off.

The battle was relatively routine, long yes, losses yes, but routine. At least that was what Rex thought, well mostly routine. What wasn't routine was the way he continued to watch Ahsoka; he wished she'd wear armor, or something, or just stop jumping barely over the blaster bolts. Had she always been this agile? Had she always continued to move like that in a battle? He couldn't be sure but he thought so. However, he thought some of this was new, something was different perhaps it came with her older age. Or maybe, he couldn't help but think of her talks of fighting on Shili, not in a war but with her tribe, hunting. Maybe this was something related to that, he couldn't be sure. He was sure however she was just as reckless as Skywalker but he'd be damned to admit it if she didn't look better while doing it.

The battle continued on well until the sun settled over the horizon and they elected to make a quick basecamp while the scouts were looking for where the droids had run off to and where their base was. Ahsoka had checked over the wounded before sitting herself at the base of some tree and closing her eyes, Rex couldn't tell if she was sleeping or meditating but either way she was left undisturbed while new plans were made.

"When the scouts make contact we'll head to that location hopefully we'll have this quarter's base and can make a stronghold of our own here." Anakin stated glancing over to see Ahsoka where she sat.

"She may be sleeping Sir." Rex noted and he shook his head.

"She's awake, just meditating." He looked at her again "Hey Snips." He called out and her eyes opened, she stood up and sauntered over, Rex looked away from the way her Lekku now moved in time with her steps. He zoned out as the pair of Jedi- no not Jedi… force wielders… he thought that would work. Regardless he stopped listening to their conversation and thought back to the battle. She was skilled, easily matched with General Skywalker, but she was different, he supposed that they both were in comparison to other Jedi. Never once could he recall either of them calling him or any of his brother's by their number, always their name.

"I mean it Rex,"

Yes but meant what? Why did she say he was different? Was is to assure him he wasn't just a Soldier? Or did she think of him as something more than just a clone… a friend maybe or was there more to it than that… was there something else, her face, she was blushing wasn't she? But why, it didn't make sense what did he do to elicit the reaction from her? Did she… it wasn't possible she wanted him as more than a friend was it…? He shook his head of the thoughts, he was a clone, a soldier, she was a former Jedi soon to be Jensaarai, and they were worlds apart in every sense of the word. Besides, he thought, even if she did want him as more than a friend what would happen in a few years?

If he died in battle, he'd read the books, they all had. Skywalker had made them all read a book about Togruta and their biology shortly after Ahsoka had a heat cycle, scared the hell out of some of them… worried the hell out of Kix. So he knew, they mated for life, they formed strong bonds… if he died… she'd be crushed… ruined just because he was unable to control himself long enough to see that it'd be a mistake. Even if he didn't die, what'd happen after the war? He didn't know… and the fear of being sent to Kamino for… reprograming or decommissioning was a very real thought in his mind.

A few hours passed and soon the battle was starting up all over again, and it remained that way they continued to push closer and closer to the droid base and eventually they got to the base. Ahsoka led a team inside to set charges while Anakin ran distraction outside.

"Rex go with Ahsoka watch her back!" Anakin ordered and with a nod he ran after the woman, he smirked, the general didn't have to tell him twice about watching her back, he shook his head of the thought, later, not now, it's time to focus.

They ran through the base, quietly, so rather they snuck through the base. Ahsoka taking point Rex right behind her, she crouched and Rex motioned for the others to lay low as a full battalion of droids ran past them, they waited for the droids to pass before continuing on, one of the clones Cole, set charges every so often of the run to the main reactor. Finally they got there and set the last of the charges, Ahsoka throwing some of the charges up high with the aid of the force.

"Is that all of them?" she asked and they all nodded "Anakin, we've got the charges in place we are on our way out now not much longer now." She said speaking into her com,

"Good job Ahsoka now you and the men get out of there I don't want any of you near the building when it goes off." He ordered and she started running out of the now literal ticking time bomb. They got clear of the droid base and Ahsoka gave a nod, the charges were lit and the base destroyed, out of habit she turned away slightly and out of habit Rex shielded her from the blast.

It was routine, the last of it, packing up, transporting the wounded, heading back to Coruscant to resupply, it was normal. Soon the cruisers were landing for minor repairs and the clones were headed to the barracks, or the medical base.

"Hey Rex, come on we are gonna grab General Tano get some drinks!" Jesse called and Rex turned around

"Are you crazy, you want to take General Tano to a bar…"

"Yes but that hardly makes me crazy, come on loosen up, Echo is coming, Kix is busy, but Cole, and some of the others are coming it'll be fun." He insisted and Rex groaned

"Fine, but only to make sure nothing gets out of hand." He assured them and they found Ahsoka signing off on some resupply orders.

"General Tano,"

"Yes Jesse what's up?"

"Rex and I are going to a bar with some others; come with it'll be fun."

"You really want me to come with?" she asked

"Yeah, you earned it plus you're getting knighted in a few days right, we aren't going to be there so let's celebrate now!" he exclaimed swinging an arm around the other and pulling her along

"Fine, fine, I'm sure a few drinks can't hurt." She gave in walking with the other until he released her and she walked between them. They got to the bar and found some of the others already waiting, drinks at the ready.

"Don't you think you're a little young to be drinking?" one of the clones asked and Ahsoka smirked

"In the Fett clan what age is considered an adult?" she asked

"I believe it's something like 14 standard years…"

"Which I'm older than, and on Shili when you kill your first Akul you're considered an adult regardless of age unless of course you reach 18 standard years," she went on.

"And you've done that," Rex commented

"Exactly so I'm a little over qualified in the drinking age department."

"Well then, let's celebrate!" They cheered and toasted for the first round. The night continued with a few more rounds and Ahsoka shared stories of her sabbatical.

"Not that I don't like your choice in drinks… but I don't." she said and without another comment on the matter stood up and easily, too easily given three rounds of alcohol Rex thought, and sauntered over to the bar.

Ahsoka started to look over the menu and then considered what she wanted to drink.

"What brought you here sweetheart?" a man, human, asked and Ahsoka gave him a gentle expression

"Kicked ass on Felucia yesterday celebrating with my men." She replied easily and the man moved closer.

"Ah so you're a Jedi."

"No, I'm not a Jedi, you don't have to be a Jedi to fight." She replied

"But you have lightsabers"

"And I know how to use them…"

"Oh I bet you do darlin' what do you say I buy you your next drink?" he asked moving ever closer.

"Oh my dear I'm not sure you could really handle that…" she smirked

"Hey Rex…"

"What…"

"You may want to go get the general…" Jesse said motioning towards the bar Rex turned and his blood instantly started to boil, there was a man with his-, not his… with Ahsoka he was almost touching her, smiling at her with something evil in his eyes, and she was giving him a gentle smirk, clearly trying to be nice. However, Rex wasn't about to be nice, the very idea of it in regards to his… in regards to Ahsoka.

"Piece of-" he didn't finish the sentence as he stood up and stalked over to the bar where Ahsoka was making another attempt at ordering her drink.

"General Tano." His voice was curt

"Oh Rex, sorry I didn't mean to get held up." He noticed she was blushing and he told himself it was the alcohol.

"It's not an issue, but let's get back why don't we?" he asked and the man scoffed

"Sorry I think she may be having more fun with me than you." Rex growled actually growled, Ahsoka noted, she'd never heard the sound and didn't fight it when Rex guided her behind him.

"Excuse you, don't you have any idea who you're talking to." He spat back and the man laughed

"Fine take her back to your little party I envy you I really do getting to be with a thing like this in all your battles in all of the close quarters, must be nice to have something like that on your side that close with all of you." He started and Ahsoka opened her mouth to start voicing her disgust but Rex stopped her with his hand, before sending a straight punch into the man's nose.

"If that's what you think of us you ought to go somewhere else, we're clones, we're soldiers, and she's our damn General so you may want to think about your next words." He growled again grabbed Ahsoka's drink and brought it and her back to the table.

"Sorry about that…" Ahsoka admitted sipping on her latest drink

"It's not your fault he's an ass." Rex told her but was on edge for the remainder of the evening. He noticed that Ahsoka seemed to be effected by the alcohol and Rex decided it was a good time for the party to end for her.

"Alright come on General Tano, let's take you back to the Senator's apartment, General Skywalker will actually kill us if something happens or if you're too hungover tomorrow." He said and guided her out to the speeder.

"You didn't drink…" she states as she sat in the passenger of the speeder.

"No I didn't, usually don't." he added and she pouted "What, what's wrong?"

"You should try it, it'd loosen you up." She laughed, giggled; it was different drunk he thought.

"Are you saying I'm too tight?"

"No not at all I'm just saying you deserve to have fun too." She told him.

"Maybe next time,"

"Holding you to that," she went relatively quiet after that.

They returned to the Senator's apartment and Rex walked her in making sure, even as she stumbled that she was generally alright.

"Rex…" she said as they got to the door.

"Yes… Ahsoka" he finally started.

"Why did you punch him…?"

"He was being an ass…"

"But why come up to see if I was okay at all?" she asked looking away slightly

"Because…" there were so many things he could say "I care about you… I want to make sure you're okay." She decided

"You care about me…" she sounded, surprised and even happy.

"Of course I do, you're one of us remember?"

"Oh… right…" she sounded almost deflated and Rex backtracked

"Hey, I'd care about you regardless, I promise." He assured her placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and took a risk, he cupped her face gently he couldn't help but trace her cheek markings with his thumb.

"You mean it…" she asked and he nodded leaning down and placing a gentle kiss between her Montrals, they were warmer than he imagined.

"I always will Ahsoka…" he whispered. "Now, go get some sleep." He urged her and watched as she walked into the senator's apartment letting out a deep breath as he stood there for several moments before turning and walking back towards the landing dock. He picked up his data pad and sent a simple message to Wolffe.

'I hate you, you're the worst.'

'Doubt that.'