POV: Ahsoka Tano

It was almost time for my master and I to eat dinner at Dex's Diner. I was actually looking forward to it. We hardly ever did anything outside of training and fighting, so this would be nice. I'm just desperately hoping he won't try anything on me like he did in the gym...

I ran into the refresher and took a shower. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself afterward.

I walked out into the room and there was Master Skywalker, shirtless.

"Uh..." I said.

He turned around and his eyes widened. "Sorry," he said, turning back toward the wall facing away from me. He reached out to his dresser and opened it with the Force, grabbing a shirt while doing so.

I watched him clothe himself. It seemed to happen in slow motion, which was odd in itself.

"You all right?"

I blinked and looked away, trying to get his chest out of my mind. "Uh, yeah, Master, I'm fine. Almost ready?"

"I'm all set. Waiting on you."

I stood there in silence for a moment. He backed up. "Did you want me to leave?"

"Just for a minute. You can stand outside."

He nodded and walked out. I made sure he wouldn't come back in. I didn't think he would, but hey, you never know how reckless he can be...

I looked through my dresser and couldn't find a decent shirt to wear in the place of my tube top. I walked over to the door and opened it. "Master?"

"Yes?" He was across the hallway, looking at me.

"Do you... have an extra shirt that I can use? Maybe one that's too small for you?"

"Uh, sure." He walked past me and went to his dresser. He went through the shirt drawer – which was pretty neat and organized, if I may add – and found a smaller shirt. It looked pretty decent.

"Wow, I can't believe I still have this thing," he said, looking amazed. "I've had it since I was seventeen."

"Really? It's in wonderful condition for being so old."

"Hey, it was only eight years ago. Are you calling me old now?" He laughed.

"Yes, you are definitely old because you're twenty-five."

"What does that make Obi-Wan? He's seven years older than me."

I thought for a moment. "Really old?"

He burst into laughter. It was nice to see that.

"All right," he tossed the shirt at me. "Get dressed."

He walked out and I slipped his shirt on. It felt nice and roomy. He must have been a little muscular at my age... probably not as nice as it is now.

What?

Am I really going back to his chest? Ugh, come on. I know he's attractive and muscular, but the age difference is killing me. If he were a little closer to my age, or I to his, this might work. The fact that we're both Jedi doesn't help either. It complicates the matter because we aren't allowed to form attachments.

I pulled a pair of pants on. The shirt went well with them. I looked at myself in the mirror and actually felt good about the way I looked. I wouldn't attract anyone with this on. Plus, I guess my master would look like my partner in public. Well, in the public where we aren't known very well.

I grabbed my lightsaber and attached it to the belt that came with the pants, tucking it nicely under my shirt. I didn't see my master's lightsaber, so I guess he did the same. We had to be ready in case we were needed.

I walked out into the hallway. He was sitting to my left, head on his knees.

I knelt down beside him and touched his shoulder. His head flew up in alertness. "Oh, it's just you."

I smiled. "Are you sure you want to go out? You look worn out."

He shook his head. "We're going. I'm fine, trust me. I've been much worse than right now."

"Is the nightmare still troubling you?"

He sighed and nodded. I grabbed his arm lightly.

"It'll be all right, Master."

His eyebrow rose up briefly as he stood. "I hope you're right."

I looked up at him and smiled widely. He had to return the smile because he couldn't resist.

I grabbed his hand and dragged him with me to where his speeder was parked. "Hey, Snips, slow down!"

"I'm hungry!"

"Again? We only ate lunch a couple hours ago."

"You know how I am," I laughed.

"That's true..."

We reached his speeder and I immediately jumped over the side, landing in the passenger seat. He watched me and when I looked at him, he turned away quickly. Hmm. What was that?

He walked around to get into the driver's seat. Usually he would jump over the side to show off, like I had done, but he hadn't.

"Are you sure you're okay, Master?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You're acting a bit off."

His eyes closed a bit. "How so?"

"You're not as energetic today and you didn't even jump over the side of the speeder to try to impress me. That's why I jumped over my side today."

"I'm a little tired, Snips, but don't worry about it. I'll be back to normal by tomorrow morning."

I heard him mutter, "I hope."

He didn't sound like he'd be 'back to normal' by the next morning. I've never really seen him fall this far. I was actually beginning to worry about him. What if we were attacked? Would he be able to defend himself? I don't think I could protect us both without getting him killed. I couldn't live with myself if he was killed.

He drove to Dex's without another word. That was odd in itself. He'd usually have something to say...

POV: Anakin Skywalker

Why do I continue to put myself through all of this? I should just tell the Council how I'm feeling and let them decide on what they should do to me. Would I actually get expelled or would they take her away from me? If they took her away from me, I don't know what I'd do. I felt like I had to have her near me in order to live. Her presence near me was equivalent to my daily breathing. I need her.

"Master, watch out!"

I swerved to the right to avoid crashing into someone else's speeder. They yelled at me in a different language that I couldn't understand.

I felt Ahsoka's eyes on me. I knew that she was going to ask me if I was okay, yet again. I'd be lying if I said I was fine this time.

"Answer me honestly now," she commanded.

"All right. I'm not okay, but we're almost to Dex's."

"I'm going to fly us home after we eat if you live through that."

I frowned. "I'll live, Ahsoka."

I landed the speeder about a block away from the diner, my usual parking spot. I looked around, observing the pedestrians.

"Master?"

Ahsoka was already crossing the street. I ran over to her and she took my hand. Was she trying to get me to attack her? There's only so much I can really take before hitting the breaking point.

As we neared the diner, she released my hand from it's fiery sensation. I missed the warmth of her hand. It was another thing I needed as of right now.

We walked into the diner and Dex greeted me. I was always here with Obi-Wan because he always asked me to go with him.

"The usual?" he asked me.

I nodded. "And for the lady?"

I looked down at her. She whispered, "Can I get what you're getting?"

My eyes rolled yet again. "It's actually legal, so yes," I whispered to her. "Two of everything."

Dex went to work behind the counter and began to prepare our food.

Ahsoka picked our seat, one closer to a window. "Master?"

I was getting myself comfortable in the worn out seat. "Yep?"

"Tell me what's really bothering you. I know it's not the nightmare. You've had nightmares before that didn't bother you that much."

"It's nothing, Ahsoka." It hurt to say that. To me, love wasn't nothing. It meant the world to me. I assumed that it meant the world to Padme, too, and I was being unfaithful at this moment.

"I want you to tell me right now, Master."

"I'm just thinking about a lot of stuff that's going on right now. It's nothing you need to worry about."

"I worry anyway. You're my master and you can legally drive the speeder. If you aren't paying attention, like earlier, we may both get killed."

"I understand that and I apologize for not paying attention earlier. If you got hurt..." Best to stop there. Let her mind take that as she will.

"If I got hurt, what would you do?"

"Well," I paused momentarily. What can I say that wouldn't clue her into what I've been thinking all day? "First of all, I'd definitely take the blame for it. I'd feel terrible and wouldn't be able to live with myself. Finally, I'd have to train and get used to another padawan, so I'd probably kill myself. It was hard enough getting this far with you."

I laughed at the end so she wouldn't take that as a negative comment.

She joined in the laughter. "Well, don't get me killed and you won't have to kill yourself. You probably built up some tolerance to children by training me, didn't you?"

"Children? You aren't a child, Ahsoka, but I did build up tolerance to your recklessness. You're just like I was. I'm in Obi-Wan's position now. I get to see how he felt when I'd disobey him or charge into a fight because I was headstrong."

She half smiled. "Is it a bad thing that I'm like you were?"

"No, not at all. It's kind of like I'm looking at myself when I was younger."

Dex's WA-7 waitress, Flo, came with our order on a plate. I ordered some more alcohol for myself and Dex must have taken notice of Ahsoka's age because she had a different, non-alcoholic one.

"Here ya go, hon," Flo said.

I nodded in thanks as she put the plate on the table.

"What is this?"

I shrugged. "I don't know the actual name of it. It's a really tasty pastry. Try it."

I laughed at the look on her face. She was terrified to try it.

"Don't laugh!"

"Try it."

She slowly bit off a piece. She chewed it longer than she should have. She finally swallowed. I was mesmerized by the entire process.

I cleared my throat. "Well?"

She smiled. "It was pretty good."

"Good," I laughed.

We laughed for a couple minutes, then sat in a peaceful silence.

I was staring at Ahsoka and she at me.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" I asked her.

"How beautiful am I?" she teased.

"You're as beautiful as all the stars in the sky."

She leaned across the table and kissed me. I kissed her for a few moments, beginning to bite her bottom lip.

I closed my eyes to make the kiss better for myself.

We both moved out of the booth and met in the aisle, locking mouths again. I began to stroke her lekku as her hands rushed through my hair.

She began to nibble on my lips, then bit hard on it, opening my mouth.

"Master?" she whispered.

"Hey? Are you listening to me?"

I shook a little bit. "Sorry. What did you say?"

"I said that it's getting late. We should probably go back to the temple."

Had I really just fantasized about Ahsoka? That was uncalled for and inappropriate...

"Sounds good. I'll fly you back, but I need to go somewhere tonight."

She pouted. "You're leaving me alone in that dark room again?"

"Not intentionally. I lo-"

No way was I really going to say that I loved her.

She looked puzzled. "Never mind. Come on, let's go."

I cleaned up the dishes and put them, along with the bill, on the counter for Dex or one of his waitresses to take.

"What were you going to say earlier, Master?" she asked me as we were walking to my speeder.

"I... lost something earlier. I'm going to try to find it after I drop you off at the temple."

Yeah, I lost my mind. I need to find it...

We arrived at the speeder and she hopped over the side. I stopped where I was for a moment. Hmm, should I? Of course.

I jumped into the air, putting the Force into it as I flipped, and landed beside her.

"Show off!"

I laughed. "Hey, you complained about how I hadn't done something earlier."

"You'd just jump over the side, not over me!"

"I'm improving myself, Snips. Learn from it," I smiled.

She laughed and smiled back at me. That was a good way to end my night with her. I have to go see Padme. I'll probably end up staying the night with her.

We got to the temple and she jumped out. "Good night, Master."

"Good night, Ahsoka. Get some rest and I'll see you in the morning."

She smiled. "Thanks for dinner. I'll see you later."

I watched her run into the temple. I wanted to make sure she got in all right.

As soon as she disappeared from sight, I flew in the direction of the Senate building.