Disclaimer: Totally not mine. Unless you know something I do not?

The time eventually came for the Jedi to ship out, after a few days of relative peace spent equally between the Temple and Padmé's penthouse. Ahsoka met Anakin at her apartment the morning they planned to depart.

Since she had found them out they had been oddly open about their relationship, clearly enjoying not having to lie anymore. She had been over to Padmé's apartment for dinner one night where they had explained how they had ended up married. Ahsoka, still slightly confused as to how she could have missed it, began to become used to their strange but fitting relationship, so much so that she had covered from him a few times in the last few days.

It was still early morning when she pulled on to the speeder dock attached to the penthouse.

"Good morning, Ahsoka." Padmé, still in her oddly still fancy nightclothes, descended onto the terrace.

Ahsoka grinned. "Morning. Anakin ready yet?"

"He's just finishing up in the 'fresher."

Padmé gestured to the door. "Would you like something to eat? I've heard from Ani that Jedi meals leave much to be desired, not to mention the crap they feed you on missions."

Ahsoka laughed. "You aren't wrong, but I don't want to intrude."

She tilted her head. "It's nothing. Ahsoka, you might as well accept it. You're part of the family now. If you weren't before." The senator smiled at her.

The Togruta's heart softened. She had missed her friend. But she still shook her head. "I'm fine, really." This was the first she had been actually alone with Padmé since she had returned, though Padmé didn't know that.

"Sit down then," she said patting the spot next to her on the couch she had just positioned herself on.

Ahsoka plopped down next to her, gazing at the speeders rushing by.

Padmé glanced at her knowingly. "You know, you are like a daughter to him and one of his best friends. I know he would have been so lost if you had left the order. He would have missed you so much." A fierce wave of guilt swept through her. She had abandoned him the first time. What had Padmé thought then?

Her senatorial mask seemed to melt as she turned into Padmé Skywalker, the wife. "And I know you probably had your own reasons, but I wanted to thank you. For not leaving I mean. He would never admit it." She rolled her eyes. "Of course he's too proud to admit it, but he needs you. Probably more than he realizes. He needs you and Obi-Wan to make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid or reckless."

Ahsoka chuckled. "I think he'd do them whether we were there or not."

Padmé snorted and let out a weary sigh. "I don't doubt it, but I like to think you two somewhat diffuse the insanity. Anyway I love him, but Anakin is an idiot more often than not and he—I—people there to make sure he doesn't get himself killed." She looked hesitant for a moment. "So I guess that's what I wanted to ask you. Please just make sure he makes his way home to me.." She paused. "I don't think I could handle everything without him." Her voice cracked.

For a woman who had made a career of being cool-headed and reasonable she could certainly let out all of her emotions out.

Ahsoka reached out and placed a hand over her friend's clenched ones. She squeezed gently. "I promise you, at all costs I will make sure that Anakin comes back to you in one piece." In her head she added, "And still completely following the light."

Padmé squeezed back, unshed tears glittering in her eyes. She sheepishly looked up, more aware of the conversation. "I'm sorry, I just—" She glanced down at their linked hands. "There isn't a day I regret marrying my husband. I love Ani, I love everything he is, but…" Padmé let a bitter laugh. "There are somedays I regret letting myself fall in love with 'Anakin Skywalker', the 'Hero With No Hear', the Jedi knight. And it's not just the lying or the distance. Or even," she snorted shortly, "The difference of opinion. It's hard, but we both know our duties." She exhaled sharply and their gazes met. "Do you know how many times I have heard that he's dead on the holonet? I never know if it's true or not until either he contacts me or I hear about another crazy adventure. And I can never express genuine concern whenever someone suggests him for another life-threatening mission for the war." She sniffled.

"Even though every fiber of my being is telling me to not let him out of my sight, I know the galaxy needs him." Her voice suddenly changed and turned almost into a whisper. Her chocolate brown eyes were downcast as she studied her fingers. "I am terrified, absolutely terrified for the day I find out he's gone. I know that's it's coming. I've prepared myself for that since I realized I loved him. But the only way I can think I would find out is during a senate meeting and I don't know if I can stand that." Ahsoka nodded with understanding." But no one knows we're married, not even my family. No one, expect maybe Obi-Wan would know enough about our—uh—friendship to tell me." She wiped away an invisible tear. "I always thought he suspected, but I doubt he knows the extent of how far we went."

"It's Obi-Wan. I don't think those words are in his vocabulary." Ahsoka laughed, trying to diffuse the tension.

Padmé offered a small smile. "From what I've heard, it turns he's well versed in that sort of language."

Ahsoka feigned shock, having heard it from the man himself on a drunken night on Tatooine. "Are we talking about the same Obi-Wan.?"

She nodded slyly. "Being married to a gossip does have its perks."

"What's this about a gossip?" Anakin strode down onto the veranda in his usual Jedi robes, peering over the pair nonchalantly.

Ahsoka, suddenly aware that the supportive handholding was distinctly un-Jedi like, leapt away. Neither Anakin and Padmé would bat an eye over it, but the habit had come from her years of not shying away from affection later in life, definitely not her conservative Jedi training, however unorthodox Anakin was.

Padmé laughed, a laugh Ahsoka had learned was specifically reserved for Anakin. "Ani, we both know you are the biggest gossip on Coruscant."

"I have no idea what you mean." He said, strapping his glove tightly over his mechanical hand.

Ahsoka rolled her eyes, "Master, you can never keep your mouth shut, even in the middle of a battle. It's almost gotten you killed multiple times."

Padmé raised an eyebrow. "She's exaggerating." Anakin said quickly.

"Oh, I'm sure." His wife said dryly.

Ahsoka jumped to her feet. "Are you ready Master? We're gonna be late as it is."

He nodded distractedly, placing his hands over his belt to check he had everything. "I think I'm ready."

Padmé pursed her lips, "Really?"

Anakin opened his mouth slowly. "Uh, yeah?"

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Positive?"

"Yeah!"

"Hundred percent sure?"

He went silent and turned bright red.

"Ani?"

"Yes, dear?"

"What did you forget?"

"My lightsaber, darling."

"And why aren't going to get that?"

"Because that would be an act of defeat. And I will not admit defeat."

"Anakin?"

"Yes, love?"

"Stop being a child."

"Yes, honey." He turned on his heel and marched back into the apartment, with decidedly less swagger than with which he crashed into their conversation with.

Padmé shook her head. "He's always been like that. I met him when he was nine, he was exactly like that then too, except shorter."

Ahsoka smiled.

The senator rose to her level, her humorous demeanor fading into the more serious expression she had worn before her husband had interrupted. She pulled her nightgown closer to her body as the early Coruscant breeze flew through the terrace.

"Ahsoka, please don't mention what I said to Anakin. You know him. If you tell him, the thought will spiral and he'll never let it go. And regardless, whatever I feel doesn't matter." She sighed firmly. "What matters at this point is the galaxy and the war. His mind needs to be there, both of ours does. It's just I've never had anyone to talk to about this. Threepio isn't very good at holding a conversation."

"I understand, Padmé." Against her better judgement, she placed a comforting hand on the senator's shoulder. "If you ever need someone to talk to about this, I'm here." She paused." And I meant what I said, I promise I he'll come back to you."

Padmé gave her a curious look. "I can believe I'm saying this, but Anakin was right, your ordeal has changed you. You are so much more mature now, it's like you're a whole new woman."

Ahsoka jerked away suddenly, startled that it was so obvious.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it in a bad way." Padmé said apologetically. "It's good, it suits you. And hopefully it will rub off on Anakin."

Ahsoka giggled nervously, thankful for the easy leeway. "After spending so much time with Obi-Wan, I think he's immune to that kind of influence."

They both laughed, inexplicably exploding into a sort of rare and simple joy.

"What's so funny?" Anakin arrived again, this time totting his lightsaber. "I got it, you happy now?" Padmé rolled her eyes but smiled at him. "You ready Snips?"

Ahsoka nodded, embracing Padmé to say good bye. As she pulled away Padmé whispered in her ear. "Please keep your promise." She tightened her grip on her friend to reassure her.

Anakin and Padmé then hugged, Padmé placing a kiss on his cheek and Anakin pressing his lips against her forehead. The two parted, Anakin following Ahsoka towards the speeder.

The master and padawan then flew away, Anakin insisiting on driving, as usual. Ahsoka watched as Padmé waving figure on the veranda disappeared into the roar of Coruscanti traffic.

Anakin, his stoic eyes still glued to the crowded lanes, wore a stiff expression. Ahsoka could tell this was as difficult for him as it was for Padmé.

"Where are we going again, Master?" She asked lightly, trying to slip back into the eager student persona she had been perfecting since she arrived.

"Uh—Ringo Vinda."

"Ooo, the planet with space station around it?"

"That's the one."

"Is Obi-Wan coming?"

Anakin, shaking off his haze, shook his head. "He's still needed here, but Masters Tiplee and Tiplar will be joining us, as well as Rex and the guys, obviously."

Ahsoka sucked in a breath, trying to remain calm. She had heard this story a million times from Rex. The mission he began to realize something was wrong with the Republic and one of his biggest regrets. He hadn't acted the first time, but with a little persuading maybe she could save Fives and take the first step to stopping Order 66. She only didn't expect it to happen so quickly. But whatever happened she swore to herslef she would keep her promise. Ahsoka knew now that Padmé was the key to protecting Anakin, one way or another

Author's Note:Sorry it has been so long and it was a pretty short chapter. I totally lost track of this. It could be easier or harder from this point on. I plan on following the rest of the Star Wars: the Clone Wars episodes that Netflix added because at least a couple are relevant to the Star Wars series as a whole. I will eventually get to RotS and maybe even something having to do with Rogue One or ANH, hopefully in this century. It was hard to get Padmé's characterization right so I'm sorry if it wasn't very good, I tried. I really wanted Ahsoka to understand Anakin's life on Coruscant before they got the battle part. Please comment, but don't be mean. Thank you!