POV: Ahsoka Tano

I woke up the next morning, yawning. I stretched my arms above my head and smiled, sitting up slowly. I rubbed my eyes and glanced across the room to see my Master's bed completely empty. I sighed, shaking my head.

He must have woken up in the middle of the night to go see her. I knew he couldn't stay away very long and I wondered what excuse he might give me today for being gone.

I pulled my blanket back and threw my legs over the side of the bed, touching the floor. I stretched my arms out at my sides, hearing the nice crack of stiff muscles. I stood up, walking over to my Master's dresser once again.

I opened the top drawer to see the necklace gone, but the ring still there. I wondered why he would leave something so important here where I could easily find it. I lifted the ring, holding it between my thumb and index finger, inspecting it. I saw a small inscription on the inside of the ring and I pulled it closer to my face. It had the words 'Forever and Always' engraved into it.

I sighed, feeling my depression sink in. I lied to him last night when I said that I wouldn't allow my emotions to take over me. I already had, whether it was intentional or not. I remember the first time he caught me staring at him in a more than friendly way. "What? You think you're the first Padawan to want their Master?"

The blue stripes on my lekku and montrals turned a darker shade as I remembered the smirk that played upon his lips when he said that. "It's not a bad thing, I guess, but don't let your emotions control you, Ahsoka."

If only I had known then that he and Padme were together. I wondered how he was so good at hiding something like this from the Council for as long as he has. I slipped the ring onto my finger again, wishing that it were mine. I sighed as I held my hand out in front of me, staring at it.

I heard footsteps coming closer to the door and within seconds, the door slid open. I quickly dashed into the refresher as the visitor entered. "Snips?"

I pressed my montrals against the door, locking it. "Yeah?"

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," I whispered.

"How are you feeling?"

I bit my lip, glancing down at the ring that was still placed on my finger. His wedding ring. What if he found out that I took it? "I'm okay, Master. How about you?"

"I'm good. I was going to head out for a little bit, but I forgot something." I removed the ring and placed it in a compartment on my belt. I bit my lip again as I wondered what he'd think if he couldn't find it.

I unlocked the door and walked out to see him searching frantically through his dresser. "What are you looking for, Master?"

"Uh," he spun around, staring at me with widened eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Nothing, Snips. I think I left it somewhere else, so… I'll look for it later."

"Anything I can help with?"

"Nope."

I walked across the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close to me for what I hoped would be a long embrace. I slyly opened the compartment on my belt, pulling the ring out. I opened one on his side quietly and slipped it in. While doing so, I felt the necklace. I rubbed his back for a moment, smiling to myself. "Are you sure you're okay, Ahsoka?"

I pulled back to smile. "Of course, Master. Go have fun."

"Do you want to come with me?"

"What were you planning on doing?"

"I was considering heading over to see Senator Amidala. She still misses you and she was pretty bummed about us not being able to make it."

As much as I wanted to have them both in the same room with me, I didn't think I could handle the secret without blowing it. If the three of us were closed in a room, I'd fall apart and confess that I'd followed him, that I knew about their secret.

"You go ahead. Tell Padme that I said hello, please."

He unwound his arms from around me and leveled himself to meet my eyes. "Are you –?"

"I'm fine and I'm sure," I laughed, smacking his shoulder. "Get out of the temple and enjoy yourself. I've got some training to do."

"I should be training you…"

I threw one arm around his neck, whispering into his ear, "You've been under a lot of stress lately. Go unwind and have fun. Plus, I don't want to hurt you again."

He chuckled, pulling back to smile at me. For one moment, I saw a glimmer in his eyes, but I knew that wasn't a good thing. His arms wrapped around my waist and picked me up, throwing me over his strong shoulders. "Master!" I laughed.

He spun around and ran out of the dorm, laughing while doing so. My hands were on his back and I continued to laugh as several Padawans and younglings stared at us like we were crazy. "Master, put me down!"

"Not until I get you out of the temple," he chuckled.

I watched his robes fly back behind him and I felt like a small child again. It was like being at home before Master Plo had brought me here. My father used to pick me up and run with me like this, but this felt so much better. I felt free and I knew that he truly cared about my happiness. My Master always pulled some random stunt when he wanted me to laugh.

He began to run down the countless stairs that led us out of the temple. I laughed, beginning to cry. Once he stopped, he put me down. He bent forward, allowing my feet to touch the ground. As soon as I did, I threw my arms around him.

POV: Anakin Skywalker

I smiled as I watched Ahsoka's lips form her own beautiful smile. I wound my arms around her back lightly, holding her against me. "I love to see you smile, Snips."

"You always make me smile, Master."

I chuckled as we separated. "So now what do we do?"

She shrugged. "I thought you were the one creating plans and such, Master. You're the one that wanted to get me out of the temple and here I am," she laughed. "What do you want to do?"

"Anything."

She smacked my chest playfully. "I need to go teach some younglings today at Master Yoda's request. I'll be there for a few hours, but after that, maybe we could go out for dinner again?"

"When did he request you for a lesson?"

"He called me to the chambers last night while you were asleep. I'll let you know when I'm done, okay?"

I sighed, nodding as I ran a hand through my hair. "Good luck, Ahsoka. Don't teach them anything that I haven't taught you. Keep out of trouble, little one."

She rolled her eyes, smiling at me. "I've taught this group of younglings before, Master. I can handle myself and –"

"I know you can," I whispered. "I just want you to know that I care about the things you do. I care that something might backfire on either of us or really hurt our status –"

She held a hand up to silence me. "Relax, Master. You seem really on edge this morning and this is exactly why I'm sending you away for the day. When I'm done teaching the class, which will be in a few hours, I'll contact you via comlink and let you know."

"Okay, Snips. I'll see you later then. Enjoy your lesson."

"I will," she said confidently. I shook my head and turned around, heading toward the lot to get my airspeeder. "Oh, and Master?"

I spun around on my heels, raising an eyebrow. "I'm choosing dinner tonight."

I chuckled, nodding. "Sounds fine to me, Snips. I'll see you later. Get going so you aren't late!"

She laughed before turning and running back up the steps and entering the temple once again. I sighed, wishing that I could be as happy and energetic as her. All I've felt lately is depressed, stressed, and lethargic.

I headed towards the lot, jumping into my speeder. I revved the engines to life and began to levitate from the ground, flying in the direction of Padme's apartment.

I swerved through the traffic until I landed on the balcony. I stared at her, watching her sit on the couch alone, clad in a large, dark robe. I've always wondered why her hair changes each time I come to see her. She must have had a Senatorial meeting today is what I thought.

"Padme, are you okay?" I asked, walking into the living space. I knelt down, holding her hand in mine. "Are you feeling a little nauseous?"

She smiled at me, pulling me up onto the couch beside her. I took a seat, turning my entire body to face her. "I heard about your appointment to the Jedi Council. You should be happy. What's wrong, my love?" she whispered.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"I want you to talk since I've been doing most of it each time you come home. Talk to me, Anakin."

I sighed, looking down at the floor. "Sometimes I wonder what's happening to the Jedi Order. I think this war is destroying the principals of the Republic."

Her fingers intertwined with mine. "Have you ever considered that we maybe on the wrong side?" she whispered.

I turned my attention back to her, staring at her incredulously. "What do you mean?"

"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists and the Republic has become the very evil we've been fighting to destroy?"

I shook my head, staring into her eyes. "I don't believe that and you're sounding like a Separatist." I made a disgusted face as I said Separatist.

"This war represents a failure to listen. Now you're closer to the Chancellor than anyone. Please, ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume."

"Don't ask me to do that," I growled, standing up and walking away. "Make a motion in the Senate where that kind of request belongs!"

"What is it?" she asked concern deep within her voice.

"Nothing," I muttered.

"Don't do this. Don't shut me out. Let me help you," she pleaded standing and coming closer to me. She touched my arm, coming around to stare into my eyes as I turned away.

Her hand moved down my arm as I turned to face her. I stared into her eyes, seeing her sadness. "Hold me," she whispered, running her hand over my chest. She placed both hands on my chest as she continued, "Like you did by the lake on Naboo so long ago when there was nothing but our love."

I wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on the top of her head. Her head was supported by my chest as she continued to speak, "No politics, no plotting, no war."

I sighed, kissing her hair. I held her tighter. "I wish we could go back to that time, Padme. I wish that this war hadn't begun in the first place. So many lives have been stripped away."

She laughed lightly. "Don't forget that we're bringing a new addition to the Republic, Ani. Our baby is going to change our lives."

I rubbed her back with my thumb, beginning to worry again. I was extremely confused by the fact that my wedding ring had somehow vanished during the night and now Padme was telling me that this baby was going to make a dramatic difference in our lives. What she didn't understand was how concerned I was for her life. I would do anything it took to keep her alive. I couldn't live without her…