A/N: Hey all. Here's the next chapter for Separated by War. This is a filler chapter so it might be a bit of a bore. There's no dialogue in this chapter just Ahsoka's feelings towards Palpatine. This chapter introduces the 'uneasy' feeling that something really bad is going to go down. We know, of course, what this is going to be but Ahsoka doesn't... yet. The next chapter will actually take place in Palpatine's office and its the bit where Palpatine tries to turn Anakin. So, we've skipped the part where the council dismiss Palpatine's notion for Anakin to be promoted to Master. It will be mentioned though. I realised too that in the council meeting in RotS that Obi-Wan was in the meeting in person and not a hologram like some of the other members are. So, get ready for a whole lot of action.


Chapter 8


All the joy and the pain the love and heartbreak,
Lead me where I am today,
I believe, I believe I'm sure as I'm breathing,
I believe, I believe it.

I Believe – Jessica Mauboy


Ahsoka was tearing herself up. She hated seeing Anakin so down. She was sitting outside Chancellor Palpatine's office (again) while Anakin was in talking to his old friend. While the newly minted Jedi Knight was happy with wait for her master, she was unhappy that the elderly chancellor had simply told her to wait outside. It had been the first time this had happened. All throughout the war, the Chancellor always dismissed her from any of his conversations with Anakin. Ahsoka had always respected the idea that some matters were private but not everything was private.

Palpatine was simply unaware, or so Ahsoka hoped, that she knew a lot more then what she let on. She had always supported Anakin in just about anything he did but his friendship with the chancellor, had always rubbed Ahsoka up the wrong way. She had told Anakin how she had felt about the chancellor and the way he treated her but Anakin had simply said she was being paranoid.

Ahsoka had gone and told Padmé about Anakin had said to her.

While the senator hadn't been happy with her husband's choice of words, Padmé had known he would say what he had said to his former apprentice. Even though she too was against Anakin's closeness to the chancellor, Padmé told Ahsoka there wasn't much that could be down about it.

Ahsoka hadn't been happy with Padmé's response. She had gone on to say that she felt something was very wrong.

While Padmé had agreed, she had calmed Ahsoka down by telling her that Anakin was smart and knew when to get out when and if the situation turned grave.

Thinking back on the conversation, Ahsoka couldn't help stress the importance of what Padmé had been saying all along: Anakin could handle himself, yet he was impressionable. The former Padawan had always known in the short time she had known Anakin that Palpatine had always been kind to him and had always been there for him.

Ahsoka herself had taught Anakin quite a bit. Enough to the point that it could be assumed by most that didn't know the pair that Ahsoka was the teacher and Anakin was the student. It was an easy mistake to make, one most people preferred not to make.

Despite the love and respect she had for Anakin, Ahsoka could almost feel him slipping through her fingers. She had felt it from the moment Anakin had come home after rescuing the chancellor from Grievous and Dooku.

Grievous and Dooku.

Ahsoka shuddered the mention of her two foes. She knew Dooku was dead as she had felt his death in the Force but she reminded unaware that Anakin had been the one to kill him. As for Grievous, well, there was no doubt in her mind that Obi-Wan was the perfect one to take the cyborg down. She hadn't had the chance to say a proper farewell to Obi-Wan but he had commed her on the way off-planet to tell her where he was headed which Ahsoka had been grateful for. While her relationship with Obi-Wan hadn't been the same since had hadn't sided with her and Anakin when Barriss had framed her for murder and the Jedi Temple bombing, Ahsoka didn't hold it over him. She knew he had been trying to make it up to her since then.

With a defeated sigh, Ahsoka rested her head against the wall. She thought of Padmé and how Anakin's newfound behaviour was affecting her. She knew Padmé was worried and stressed and she knew that stress wasn't great for the baby.

Ahsoka knew she would adore her godchild but something told her that she wouldn't get to see her godchild grow up. She couldn't quite for her finger on it but she had a feeling something was going to go down and soon. She could have told Padmé or Anakin about it but she decided not to. They were under enough stress was it was and she didn't want to add to it. She knew they would say they didn't mind her putting her two cents worth in but it was Anakin she feared more then Padmé.

Anakin was irritable and one little thing could very easily set him off and Ahsoka didn't want that. He was too worried about Padmé apparent death then his Jedi duties. Sure, she had handled Anakin's moods before but this was like nothing she had ever faced with him. She had seen him snap before but it would be hell if Padmé and the baby were the subject. Ahsoka knew very well that Padmé and the baby were the core of Anakin's very existence. He would do anything and everything to ensure their safety.

Ahsoka could only smirk at the idea of Anakin being an overprotective father to his child. She knew he would be amazing with the baby and it would bring him and Padmé closer as a couple. As much as Ahsoka really wanted to believe this, she had a feeling that Padmé and Anakin's attempt at playing happy families wasn't going to be the fairy tale ending they hoped it would be.

The thought haunted the young woman like there was no tomorrow. She looked towards the door of the chancellor's office to see that it had not yet opened. Anakin just have been having a grand old chat with his buddy Palpatine.

Ahsoka resisted the urge to role her eyes. To make fun of Palpatine was an insult to Anakin and Ahsoka couldn't deal with that right now. As much as she wanted to be back in the temple with the younglings or doing something constructive with her time, Ahsoka had promised Anakin that she would wait for him to finish his meeting with Palpatine before returning to the temple.

Clenching and unclenching her hands, Ahsoka thought of things to occupy her mind. When she came up with nothing, she sighed.

What could they be discussing in there? She thought to herself. Discussing the weather?

She shook her head. She felt stupid for coming up with a rhetorical question like that. Anakin would have been appalled.

Ahsoka clenched her jaw and looked up at the ceiling for a second before allowing her gaze to return to the door. She wanted to go in there and say something but she didn't, knowing that Anakin would have her head, plus it was not the way Jedi acted.


Please review guys and I hope to have the next chapter up incredibly soon.

To be continued...