Epilogue

The Five Hundred and First's Captain of Torrent Company, CT-7567 - better known as Rex - waited patiently as the ramp to the ship opened with a hiss, his distance about half what it had been since the ship's skids had first touched the ground. He'd been worried since it had been declared missing, the Jedi having launched a mission to find it, but the two weeks of Ahsoka's absence had been pure hell.

They'd been located in the space above Abafar, the ship badly damaged, but space worthy. What they'd been doing there, Rex hadn't cared. He'd only cared for the fact that, after searching with a limited and rapidly dwindling time frame, they'd been found.

Ahsoka's voice over the comm. had never sounded sweeter than it had in the moments she'd hailed the Resolute. Relief had struck him forcefully enough he'd been able to do little more than greet her with an honestly professional, if somewhat choked, "It's good to hear your voice, Commander." A massive understatement though it was, it was also accurate.

She'd shot back with the same, requesting permission to dock - which was immediately granted - and then signed off with a cheeky, "Rex ole boy, have I got a surprise for you!"

Which led him to now.

The engines wound down, the boarding ramp lowering completely, and a half dozen Jedi younglings came tearing out, laughing and jostling and joking until they saw the two Jedi standing in wait. Lining up with surprising precision, the quintet came to attention and snapped off precise salutes that made Rex's eyebrows rise. Apparently Ahsoka had taken to drilling them in GAR protocols.

Skywalker and Kenobi ushered the handful off the deck, Anakin stopping briefly next to Rex. "Ahsoka's probably just powering the ship down. Tell her to find me when she's done, would you, Rex?"

"Yes, sir."

That left Rex alone on the deck, minus the deck crew, waiting in an at ease posture. There were a few moments of anticipatory silence before a sound reached him. Frowning, Rex focused on it, his gaze narrowing on the ramp.

Voices.

Laughter.

Ahsoka's laughter.

He was already moving towards the base of the ramp when she - they - came into view. Ahsoka had a brilliant smile on her face and was laughing at something the clone on her left was saying, her gaze on his. All the while, she was waving one gauntlet at the stranger, holding it away with a shake of her head.

As Rex watched, the stranger said something, grinned as she stopped beside him and then turned towards her. Taking the tip of her lekku in his bare hand, Rex saw the stranger's wrist twist as he tugged.

Rex's whole world fixated and sharpened on that moment.

Thunderous, icy rage filled him at the sight of this stranger's fingers on his Commander. Later he wouldn't be sure how, but the next thing he knew, he was beside them on the ramp. His reaction wasn't planned as he grasped the stranger's hand, twisting the thumb and forcefully driving it back, hauling the interloper's hand from Ahsoka's person.

Two pairs of surprised eyes flashed his way, but Rex ignored the pair identical to his own, his whole focus on Ahsoka as he twisted again, digging into the hand nerve to push the stranger further away. The rage that filled him was nothing compared to the relief seeing her alive and unharmed did. It swept away the anger as he took her in with a single look. A half smile crossed his lips. "It's good to see you unharmed, Commander."

Ahsoka cocked her head and opened her mouth, but it wasn't her voice that answered with amused tolerance.

"This must be your Captain Rex." Rex's gaze traveled to that of the brother in commando armor, a fact he was only belatedly registering. "I've heard so much about you."

"And you are?"

"Gregor," he flexed his fingers within Rex's grasp, "Captain Gregor."

"Captain."

"Yes; Captain." Gregor stared straight back at him and Rex found himself disliking the other man intensely. "Commando Captain - would you mind...?"

"Not if you're going to keep your hands to yourself."

Gregor chuckled and flexed his wrist, breaking Rex's grip with shameful ease. "He's everything you said he'd be, Ahsoka."

"That's Commander Tano to you, Captain."

Ahsoka stepped between them, placing one hand on Rex's chest plate. The other slapped the vambrace and glove she'd been holding against Gregor's. "Enough, Rex. Gregor's a friend and has the same right you do to call me by name."

"Which has absolutely nothing to do with crashing in, or being tied to, your bunk this last week."

Rex's fist clenched at the insinuation, but he well recognized the deliberate ploy to get under his skin. Fives tended to dig at him the same way. Ignoring the veiled insinuation, Rex looked back to Ahsoka. "So what's this surprise?"

Her smile was sheepish. "You're looking at him."

"Him?"

She nodded.

"Your Rex doesn't' seem as excited to meet me as you promised," there was no censure in Gregor's tone to Rex's ears, just a teasing smugness that wasn't directed his way. "What'd I tell you?"

"You really expected me to believe the guess of a soldier who's been away from his brothers as long as you, over my own observations?" Ahsoka rolled her eyes before looking back Rex's way. "Mister Know-it-all over here said you'd be less than thrilled to meet him; way to prove him right, Rex."

"Meeting him is fine," he growled back at her, narrowing his gaze on the interloper, "I take issue with his blatant disregard of the Regulations to manhandle you."

"Ha!" she turned triumphantly back to Gregor. "See?"

"So you did," Gregor's smile was mischievous; teasing, "but you also said he'd pull on me first."

Rex didn't like the energy he could feel passing between them. He didn't understand it. All he knew was that it had to stop. Now. "Can I take him off your hands, Commander?"

"I kinda like being in her hands."

Ashoka blinked at Gregor's drawled comment. Even as Rex watched, her color changed gradually to a richer shade. Even the chevrons on her lekku and montrals darkened. She slowly lifted her gaze to his, blinking again, and Rex saw acute embarrassment in her eyes.

Not thinking twice, Rex placed both hands on her shoulders and firmly, if gently, pushed her aside before getting in Gregor's face. There was steel in his tone when he spoke, his voice lethally soft. "Say anything like that to the Commander again, Captain, and Commando or not, I'll have you brought up on charges that'll land your shebs in the brig for the remainder of the war."

"Rex." Ahsoka's hand curled around his elbow. He could just feel the pressure of her fingers on the seam between the plates. "It's okay. He's teasing."

"He's making you uncomfortable," he countered without breaking Gregor's slightly smug gaze, "that is unacceptable."

"Then my whole recovery must have been one hell of a learning curve," crossing his arms over his chest, Gregor broke Rex's gaze to grin at Ahsoka. "Right, Stripes?"

"Stripes?" Incensed, Rex echoed the disrespectful moniker. Grabbing the open collar of the Commando's armor, he put all of his considerable strength into the move and slammed Gregor to the ground. In the same move, one of his blaster pistols cleared its holster and the barrel pressed against Gregor's temple.

"Rex! No!"

"He needs to learn some manners!"

"He's been on his own on Abafar for who knows how long," Ahsoka countered, "what he needs, is to be reunited with his brothers."

"What he needs is a short flight for a long stay back on Kamino!"

"That's uncalled for," Ahsoka countered vehemently, "how can you disapprove of his unorthodox approach when you so often have your own?"

"Don't mind me," Gregor crossed his arms under his head as Ahsoka spoke, not having put up a single ounce of resistance. "I'm just the guy with a pistol at his temple."

"Holster it, Rex. I don't want to make it an order."

Reluctant, and more than a little irritated, Rex flipped the safety and did as asked, releasing his grip on the Commando. "You'll address the Commander with proper respect, Captain. You're no longer on your backwater. This is the Resolute, flagship of General Skywalker's fleet-"

"Your Master, right, Stripes?"

"Commander Tano's Master, yes," Rex turned a hard look on Ahsoka, realizing he wouldn't get anywhere with the Commando while she was there, "he'd like you to report as soon as you can, sir. I'll see to it Captain Gregor is billeted properly."

Ahsoka looked uncertain.

It was that look which made Rex realize he was probably acting and looking as murderous as he felt. He swallowed it with difficulty, adopting the professionalism that was his trademark like a mask. Somehow, after taking a deep breath, he found a smile for her when all he wanted to do was knock the Commando's teeth down the back of his throat. "He'll be safe with me, Ahsoka."

She glanced to Gregor and then back his way. "Promise me I'm not going to see either of you in the infirmary if I leave you two alone together?"

"Not by my hand," Rex agreed immediately before turning to Gregor. "Captain?"

"Your Rex is safe with me," something about the way Gregor said it had Rex clenching his jaw. "You gonna be around to say goodbye before I ship out, Stripes?"

"Count on it," Ahsoka flashed Gregor what Rex considered a far too familiar smile. "Wouldn't want you leaving without one farewell from a friend, right?"

"Right." The chords on Rex's neck stood out as Gregor returned her smile with the same, but different, kind of intensity. "Good luck with your Master."

"The Youglings have gotten to him first. Who knows what they said about the time aboard ship. Guess I'd better go set him straight." The impish grin and wink she shot the Commando before leaving made Rex clench his hands. It was like he wasn't even on deck! "Behave, boys, and play nice."

Rex watched her walk away for a long moment before turning to Gregor - and narrowed his eyes as Gregor's appreciative look centered somewhere in the vicinity of Ahsoka's departing, and swiftly swaying, hips. Deliberately stepping into Gregor's line of sight, he crossed his arms over his chest, frowning.

Gregor's gaze lifted to his and the Commando arched his eyebrows, as if daring him to say something.

Choosing to ignore the look, Rex held Gregor's gaze for another moment before dropping it to Gregor's armor. Examining it for a moment, he finally raised his eyebrows and sought confirmation. Surely he had to be wrong? "Two hundred and twelfth?"

"When last I was assigned."

Guess not. "Commander Cody will want to know of your survival. Have you already contacted him?"

There was a moment as Gregor hesitated. His reply wasn't what Rex expected.

"Who?"

"Commander Cody. Your commanding officer?"

"Stripes neglected to mention I'm suffering from acute amnesia, Rex,"Gregor's tone was dry, "I don't remember much. Just my training and bits and pieces of everything before crashing on Abafar."

"I refuse to believe Commander Tano neglected to mention rules and regulations with regards to fraternization between Jedi and clones."

"Oh, she mentioned them," to Rex's irritation, the other man grinned, "she also mentioned that you and your Company had unofficially inducted her into your ranks. Hardly regulation."

"Hardly official," Rex countered, not enjoying having his argument thrown back at him. "I assume you have your point?"

"You're the one who made her a part of the Trooper corps. I simply gave her a clone name to make it officially unofficial."

Staring at Gregor, Rex blinked.

Once.

Slowly.

"You- what?"

"Gave her a clone name," Gregor pointed to his head, miming the shape of Ahsoka's montrals. "Stripes. Like on her-"

"-lekku." Rex finished the sentence, swallowing the knot that had formed in his throat. He thought he understood now what had prompted the other man to touch her earlier. "You named her."

Gregor shrugged. "It seemed appropriate, vod. I just finished what you'd started."

Their gazes locked and Rex finally smiled a faint half smile. "I think you've a story or two to tell me about Ahsoka, Gregor."

"Only if you promise to reciprocate. I don't think she's told me half of what I should know."

"Probably not," Rex agreed, turning to lead the other man off the deck. "This way, Captain."

"Thank you, Captain."

Falling into step with one another, the two Captains made for the hangar deck exit without a word. There would be time for that later, comparisons to make and stories to share. For now, Rex took the measure of the man who'd been stuck with his Commander and come out of it with his good humor intact. Not only intact, but unintentionally added to Ahsoka's notoriety by giving her a clone name.

Based on everything thus far, it was going to be an interesting discussion.

When Gregor shipped out two days later, there was no fanfare and no one to see him off. No Jedi General to offer words of advice and not a single familiar face of any of his brothers.

His only companion was a very morose looking Togruta Jedi Padawan as they walked towards the small transport that he'd pilot alone to a location that hadn't yet been disclosed. Somehow, she'd managed to keep Rex away. While he liked the other Captain just fine, and was envious it was Rex and not himself who would remain with her to watch her back, Gregor found it was more than fitting that his only companion in this moment was Ahsoka.

It was only the second time he'd seen her since arriving on The Resolute since being left in her capable Captain Rex's hands. Hands that were jealous and possessive and protective to a fault, buried beneath a mask of such professionalism that Gregor doubted Ahsoka knew how her Captain felt about her. Then again, Rex didn't seem to consciously know how he felt about her, but then Gregor'd suspected the other Captain's attachment to his Commander almost from the first story Ahsoka had told him about her men. How could he not when he felt the same way towards the Padawan? Spending time with Rex had been like looking in a distorted mirror.

The experience had been… enlightening.

Almost as enlightening as reading his own service record. Nothing had seemed familiar, for all it was nice to be back with his brothers, and he was beginning to suspect Coric the medic was right. His memory loss was likely permanent. Frustrating as that was, he couldn't lament what he didn't remember.

Those memory gaps seems to make his new memories all the more clear and that was something to be grateful for since most of them featured the young woman at his side. Her and a series of younglings who'd become fast friends. It was a shame, but probably for the best, that they'd already been shipped back to Coruscant. One of them, Zatt he suspected, had slipped a datadisc under his door with a very brief, but heartfelt message of thanks and best wishes. The goodbye hadn't been said, but Gregor had been saddened to think he might never see the quintet again.

"I guess this is it, huh?"

"For now, Stripes," he agreed, his helmet under one arm as he drank in what he believed would be his last sight of her. "Aren't you Jedi supposed to know if we'll meet again?"

"Master Yoda would say the future's always in motion," she quipped.

"And what would you say?"

"I'd say…" she paused and then shrugged, letting out a sigh. "I'd say I sure hope we meet again. I'm going to miss you, Gregor."

"Surrounded by your boys and your Rex?" He tried to lighten the mood. "You won't have time to miss me."

"It won't be the same. They won't be you."

No, he agreed silently, they won't be. "You won't miss me any more than I'll miss you, I'm sure."

"Not going to miss me huh?"

Something in her expression made him smile as he reached out and gently grasped the tail end of one of her lekku. Tracing the line of the chevron deliberately, he leaned in far too close for regulation and didn't care. He wished he'd foregone his gloves but refused to let the detail interfere with this moment.

If he wasn't going to see her again, he'd leave with a series of irreplaceable memories, this one the crown of it.

Ahsoka didn't pull back as his forehead touched hers. Her breath caught in her throat as he lifted the tip of her lekku to his lips and gently, almost reverently, placed a lingering kiss on the supple flesh, never breaking the eye contact. "Like an aquatic misses the water, Ahsoka."

"Gregor-"

He pressed closer, brushing his lips across hers to silence whatever she'd been about to say. Her completely shocked silence and wide eyed stare was more than anything he could have hoped for. "Be safe, Stripes."

With one last lingering look, he turned to go, striding to the base of the ramp. His foot had just touched the base of the ramp when his name being called had him turning to look back over his shoulders.

"Gregor!" Ahsoka lifted one hand to her lips and blew him a kiss."For luck!"

Playing along, he caught it. "Jedi don't believe in luck."

"No," she agreed, "but you do. You've got my comm. in case you get into any more trouble, right?"

With a chuckle, he nodded even as he knew he'd never use it. "I do."

"Good, because if I find out you've gone MIA again, I'll make good on my threat."

Which… Gregor stared at her for half a second before throwing his head back with a laugh. "I don't have to go missing for that."

Her brow furrowed, obviously not following his train of thought. Delicious! Best they part as they'd begun anyway. He winked at her before turning back, tossing his parting shot over his shoulder as he headed up the ramp and out of her life. "Next time."

"Wait, Gregor - what are you-"

"You can tie me to your bed again next time, Stripes!" He activated the ramp controls, raising his voice. "I look forward to it!"

"GREG-!"

The hatch closed on whatever remark she'd have made in response and Gregor grinned. He didn't need to see her to know she'd be a rainbow of different, lovely hues. It was that image, juxtaposed with his first glimpse of her concerned countenance, which he'd take into his future no matter what it held.

With Ahsoka as his talisman, The Jedi Padawan who made a habit of beating the odds, he suspected that somehow, someway, they'd beat these ones too. Their paths would cross again before long and he had every intention of being around to enjoy it.

fin

Author's Note: The end :D

Thank you to everyone for reading and for those of you who left comments, for all your lovely feedback; this story was a lot of fun to write! I'm glad ya'll enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!