I groaned as I sat up from my bed, rubbing my eyes drowsily. Today I was to report to the council for a new, longer assignment. I dressed in my Jedi robes and walked calmly through the temple, smiling slightly as I passed the younglings playing in one of the courtyards. They were the only reason I ever thought of leaving the order anymore. I longed to have children of my own, but attachments were forbidden for the Jedi. That was the rule that was constantly drilled into my head by Obi-Wan, and I could tell that he believed in that code. I sighed as I continued on to a lift, riding it up to the council chambers. I entered and bowed as I stood in the center.

"You wanted to see me, Masters?" I asked as I straightened.

"Yes. We have a new assignment for you, and it will last longer than the ones you have previously been on." Master Windu said.

"Guarding Senator Amidala, you will be. Undercover and vigilant while on Naboo, you must be." Master Yoda continued.

"You are to report to landing pad B-43 this afternoon. This mission will last approximately two months, and you will be working alone. Are you comfortable with those arrangements?" Mace asked.

"Yes, Masters." I answered. They motioned for me to leave, and I turned and walked out. I was filled with joy as I went back to my room. I finally had another woman that I could talk to. Talking to teenagers was weird, and the boys were definitely a no-fly zone. I was fidgety after I packed, having hours until I was to leave. I decided to go to the sparring area, feeling that my lightsaber was far under used. Once I found the large room I immediately picked my unwilling opponent. Anakin was sitting and watching Ahsoka fight, assessing how her skills varied. I snuck up next to him and slightly shoved his shoulder.

"Hey Skyguy, wanna show me how good you are with a blade?" I asked with a daring smirk.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I'd hate to injure you before a mission." He said with an equally daring smile.

"Oh come on, you know you want to." I pressed, pulling him up.

"Fine." He agreed. I chuckled as we settled into fighting stances, and waited for him to move. He charged and made an obvious swipe to my left. I blocked it and pushed it away. He tried again by twirling and trying to strike my right side. I deftly swung my arm and stopped him early, making him falter slightly.

"You turned down your lethality, right?" I asked as a precaution, getting only a smirk in return. He tried a series of blows from the top, and I blocked each one before swiping at his feet with my leg. He toppled over and landed on his back, and I used the force to rip the weapon from his hand. I held my blade to his throat and smiled sweetly.

"Gotta work on the technique slightly, your attacks are too obvious." I suggested. He made to buckle my right leg when I turned away, but yelled when he made contact. I cringed at the crack that came from his ankle, and turned to him.

"No one likes a dirty fighter, Ani." I said, knocking on my metal leg. "Ahsoka, can you take him to a medical droid?" I asked, looking at her.

"Sure." She said calmly, helping her master up.

"I'm gonna want a rematch tomorrow!" He called after me.

"I'm gonna need a two month rain check." I told him.

"Where are you going?" He asked as I opened the door.

"To stay with Padmé." I said, the door shutting behind me. I was brought to the platform by 3PO, who told me of how horrible it had been to explore the galaxy. Once we arrived, Padmé and Captain Typho greeted me, Padmé being much more enthusiastic.

"Thank you for coming with us, Padawan. We always appreciate having a Jedi to help." Typho said, walking with me and Padmé up the loading ramp. We entered the Senator's private chambers and Padmé turned to the captain.

"If it is alright with her, I would like to speak with the Jedi in private." She said quietly. Typho nodded and closed the door. Once he was gone she came over and sat on her bed, though I chose to stand.

"Thank you for allowing me to be your guard, senator." I said formally.

"Trust me, you don't need to be like that around me. It's good to see you, Kate." She told me honestly. I smiled and sat beside her, instantly relaxing against the soft fabric.

"You too, Padmé. How was the honeymoon?" I asked with a devious smirk.

"It was wonderful. The sunset over the lake was a gorgeous setting for the..." She kind faded off, realizing she might have given something away.

"I know about you and Anakin. Don't worry, not a soul will know." I promised.

"Oh, thank the Force." She sighed in relief. We talked for a few minutes before she asked a major question.

"Have you ever thought about leaving the order?" She asked like a teenager gossiping.

"Yes, I have." I said with resign.

"Why?" She looked concerned.

"I want children." I mumbled quietly.

"Sorry, say that again." She requested humorously.

"I want children." I said louder. She seemed overjoyed at the confession, which made me confused.

"What's so great?" I asked curiously.

"I was just picturing you being a mother. Maybe our children playing together." She said dreamily.

"I did make a commitment to the Jedi Order, though. I swore not to break it." I protested, feeling downtrodden at the fact.

"Anakin broke the code, and so far has kept it secret. You could do the same." She suggested.

"How, though? You and Anakin had a previous relationship, and I'm pretty sure no one I know is going to date a Jedi." I asked.

"What if it was another Jedi?" She asked thoughtfully.

"And who would said Jedi be to break the code? The only ones I really know are Anakin and Obi-Wan, and you have Anakin." I reasoned.

"You and Obi-Wan are a similar age, are you not?" She asked, my cheeks slightly turning red at the thought.

"He's my Master, and he is adhered to those rules like a lifeline." I said, trying to stop the conversation.

"Oh come off it, I can tell you're blushing. At least think it over. You have two months on a peaceful planet, plenty of time." She reassured.

"Alright, I'll consider it." I agreed. Later that night I thought over what was to come, and found that a child would be a good way to spend almost twenty years in a hovel on Tatooine.

The ship exited hyperspace, revealing the earth-like planet of Naboo. I had to comment on the similarity to Padmé.

"It looks a lot like my home planet. Only more natural."

"How do you mean?" Padmé asked, standing beside me.

"My world is beginning to be taken over by cities and technology. Some areas look like your planet, while others look like Coruscant." I explained. Padmé crinkled her nose in distaste, but calmed when we broke through the atmosphere.

-Clone Wars-

The next two months were filled with a normal life for a senator. We stayed in the Naberrie house with Padmé's parents and sister. I felt at home while I was there, and I almost forgot about the war raging across the galaxy. Almost, but then it followed Padmé home a week before we were leaving.

I woke up in darkness from an alarm screeching in my ears early one morning, and ran to the dining room to find the reason.

"What's happening?" I asked, dressed in my nightgown and my lightsaber.

"There's a Separatist warship coming into the atmosphere, we need to run!" Stuttered Padmé's sister, Sola. I nodded and followed them out of the house, grabbing my robe from the coat rack. We ran down the street along with a huge crowd of other pedestrians. As we went, I saw the Federation's landing craft drifting downward, and laser fire in the city of Theed.

"We must help the Queen." Padmé demanded, starting to run back towards the fight. I stopped her as she went, careful not to hurt her with my cybernetics.

"Right now we need to get you out of here. I'm charged with keeping you safe." I told her, keeping her back. She stomped on my left, natural foot making me flinch. She took the opportunity to break from my grasp and disappear in the crowd.

"God damn it!" I shouted, quickly covering my mouth from the shock of my outburst.

"Go after her, we'll head to the safe zone!" Yelled Ruwee, her father, over the noise. I nodded before bolting towards the city. I caught glimpses of her every once in awhile as I pushed through the mass of people. Eventually the crowd thinned until there was just me and the woman running with a blaster towards the city gates. I used the force to throw myself forward and used my cybernetic leg to speed even faster to her. She saw me and ran faster, turning a corner at the last moment. I flew around and grabbed her arm.

"Either you come back or I go with you. Either way, it's protection." I said, using technicality to bend the rules.

"Fine by me. I could use the company." She responded, grinning. We snuck through a courtyard and hid behind a pillar, waiting for a patrol of droids to pass by. Bodies of guards and soldiers littered the ground, and more were being led away after surrendering.

"What exactly are we gonna do here? It's not like we can just take back Theed again. This isn't just some Trade Federation blockade this time." I asked her, failing to see what we could do.

"I know, but we have to try and get the Queen off world." She finalized.

"She's not going to leave without fighting. I know you didn't." I said.

"Which is why she'll listen to me. I've been in her position." Padmé reasoned.

"And how do you plan to get past the warships orbiting the planet?" I asked.

"Same way we did before." She said, sounding serious.

"Last time? Last time you got damaged and needed to stop on Tatooine for repairs. You barely made it out, and that was when there weren't battleships. History won't repeat itself." I rambled, trying to knock some sense into her.

"What would you suggest, then? Clearly you have a better idea." She shot back stubbornly. I huffed before continuing.

"You need to get to safety. When the Jedi realize we didn't return they'll send someone after us. I'm sorry, but I can't fight an entire battle for you." I told her.

"So we just do nothing? Can't you use your communicator?" She asked desperately.

"I would try, though I doubt they didn't jam the signal. It's with my clothes back at the house." I said. She nodded and made her way back out onto the street. I followed her back to the Naberrie house and waited for her to unlock it.

"Get your things. I'm sure you don't want to walk around in your nightgown and robe for a week." She said, sounding resigned. I went to the spare bedroom and got dressed, trying my communicator and actually getting signal.

"Padmé, I've got signal here. I can call the Order." I called, overjoyed.

"Do it!" She shouted, ecstatic.

"Master Obi-Wan, do you hear me? Hello?" I reached out.

"I'm here Kate, What's wrong?" He asked.

"Naboo is under siege again, we need reinforcements as fast as possible." I told him. He grumbled audibly from the other end.

"I'll inform the Council and the Chancellor. You must stay safe until we arrive. Is Senator Amidala with you?" He asked worriedly.

"I'm here." She said next to me.

"Don't do anything brash. We want you both alive and on your way to Coruscant by the end of this." He warned.

"Copy that. Tell me when you get here." I requested. He didn't respond.

"So now what?" Padmé asked.

"Now we wait." I told her, sitting down at the table.

"Shouldn't we go to my parents?" She asked.

"No, it's too dangerous to move anywhere. We can't be on the streets for now. Do you have anywhere we can hide?" I asked.

"Other than a closet, I don't think so." She answered. I sighed before standing up.

"Good, if the droids search the house we need a spot." I said. She nodded, walking to her room. She opened a sliding panel in the wall, almost invisible to the eye. The closet was small, only barely able to fit two people inside, but desperate times, right? It took a few hours until we heard metallic footsteps clanking towards the door. We rushed back silently and squeezed inside.

"Oh, if Anakin knew about this he'd kill me." I said to myself, making Padmé chuckle quietly. She stopped when the droids entered the room and scanned the area. Once they left I released a breath I didn't know I was holding, and opened the door.

"Do you think they'll come back?" She asked worriedly.

"I don't think so, no reason to check an empty house twice." I answered. She sighed heavily and sat on her bed.

"So now what?" She asked.

"Now we wait for the Republic to arrive." I said, looking out the window and gazing at the early sunrise. I spent the next hour meditating in a corner, waiting to feel a Jedi enter the system. Padmé spent the time resting, trusting me to wake her up when the time was right. Suddenly there was a large wave of life approaching, and I looked out the window again to see Republic warships descending on the planet.

"Padmé, get up. It's time." I shouted, waking her. We ran out the door and towards the army, ready to join the fight. A battalion of clones aimed their guns at us when we got to the command ship, making us raise our hands in surrender.

"Wait, we're with the Republic!" Yelled Padmé.

"Stand down, troopers. They're with us." Obi-Wan ordered. The clones lowered their weapons and stood at attention.

"As good a time as any, I suppose." I joked.

"Well, at least we have an army instead of the Naboo military. Do you know who's leading the attack?" He asked.

"We're clueless, we've been hiding since early this morning." Padmé said, crossing her arms.

"Well, we can only assume they took Theed first. Cody, take a squad and follow me. Kate, after you get the senator to safety you may join us if you wish." Obi-Wan said. I nodded and took Padmé up the large ramp and onto the command ship.

"Please don't get killed, Who else would I talk to about girl things?" Padmé pleaded. I answered with a nod and ran back out towards the city. I found Obi-Wan and his men held down in the courtyard, a multitude of super battle droids pushing towards us.

"What's the plan?" I asked over the blaster fire.

"We need to make it to the throne room." He told me. We ran for cover under a balcony, and leapt up to the next level. "Cody, hold down the droids until we take control of the city!" He yelled.

"Copy that, sir!" Cody shouted back. We broke the transparisteel windows and dropped inside, heading down the halls for our target. We stopped at a corner and waited for a patrol to go by, sneaking behind them. We crept past a bay window and I saw the Clones being massacred in the courtyard. I felt terrible for what they were going through. Eventually we came to the throne room, and stopped when we saw magnaguards watching the entrances.

"Whoever is controlling the droids will be inside, we must end this." Obi-Wan said, rushing out and cutting down the guards. I came in behind him and opened the blast doors, gaping at the monster standing before us. General Grievous stood from the throne, dropping his cape to the marble floors and laughing.

"You Jedi scum are foolish to think you can take this planet from us. Your armies are outnumbered, and you will be destroyed." He threatened, grabbing two of his lightsabers.

"I do so like a challenge." I shot back, igniting my own blade. Grievous charged and swung both blades at me, making me block and spin out of the way. Obi-Wan tried to take him from behind, but the monster turned and grabbed his arm, throwing him to the side. I swiped my blade high while his back was turned, cutting his left arm off. He growled and detached his arms, taking another lightsaber from his waist. I began to panic as he twirled the blades and stomped towards me, then slashed down the middle to stop his blades. I jumped as he slashed his lower saber at my torso, and ducked when he cut with his higher arm.

"Obi-Wan, now would be a good time!" I yelled, backing up and parrying desperately.

"Your master won't save you now." Grievous growled, preparing for the final blow. Obi-Wan launched over the table and blocked his stab, giving me time to stand and cut his upper arm. He roared before slamming us both away and crawling out of the room. We gave chase all the way to the hangar, where he stole a Naboo fighter and sped into the atmosphere.

"I hope he gets killed once he gets to the battle up there." I grumbled.

"Kate, I sense some anger in you, along with something more repressed. What has you worked up?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I'll tell you once we're on our way to Coruscant. We'll need the time to discuss it." I told him. He agreed to those terms, and we headed back to dispatch the rest of the droid forces. Padmé decided to stay a little longer, as she felt she needed to discuss ways to prevent another takeover. It was only after we were in hyperspace that Obi-Wan pulled me into an empty conference room and confronted me.

"Alright. I've been very patient over this week, but now you must answer me truthfully. Why do I feel darkness in you? What's clouding your judgment?" He asked. I sighed before giving him the whole truth.

"I want children." I blurted out. He almost stumbled back, startled at the sudden admittance.

"That's a dangerous road, you know the restrictions of romantic feelings." He was shaking his head in disappointment.

"You don't think I know that? I know I've made the commitment to the Order. I know I'm not allowed to have a baby on my own but damn it I want one!"

"You've disappointed me, Kate. Truly, you have." With that, he opened the door and left. "And I've disappointed myself." He muttered, almost quiet enough to be indistinguishable. Even though I felt a great amount of negative feelings from him, there was also a spark of something else buried beneath it all.