Yeaaaaaaaaaah! Double digits! :D Whoo! Anyways, thanks for the support again yesterday-I was so glad that none of you guys bit my head off for not watching the movies. :/ Of course, I know a couple of Vader quotes, like, "I find your lack of trust disturbing" (did I get that right?) and Luke: "I was a Jedi like my father before me." And all that good stuff. :) But sadly, I never got the chance to watch the full movie...only put in pieces and fit 'em together. So...basically, I'm winging it..."A failure in planning is a plan for failure"...oh, Force, that quote never made me feel this uncomfortable. Ah, well. :) So again, forgive me for all that. :'( Now, without further ado, I give you chapter 10! AND YES, I'm finally back on schedule!

Chapter 10.

Cadena—

I sat cross-legged on my bed and waited patiently for Anakin to come back out.

I winced in slight embarrassment about last night, how I began whimpering like a little kid. I guess I really did miss needing Anakin all the time. I was older now, and I rarely needed his help, but it was one of those moments when I wish I didn't rush so much to become so much older. I ran my fingers over my Padawan braid and the small bead that held it together at the end. I smiled, remembering how proud I was to have one. I never thought that I'd be so happy when Master Yoda declared that I'd be Anakin's new apprentice.

I began to finger the star that hung around my neck, Anakin's gift to me for my sixteenth birthday and smiled again. I've come a long way. When the war was over, everything would become even better. Jim and I would raise our newborn son, Anakin would be able to relax for once, and we'd all be a large family.

Yeah…I liked the sound of that.

I began laughing and whispered, "Everything is going to change…the tides will be in our favor this time."

•◊•

Anakin looked distracted when he came back out of the refresher, or at least, more than usual. He looked tired and worn down, as though someone was dragging him by the feet with heavy chains.

I remained quiet as Anakin sat himself on the couch, rubbing his eyes.

He sighs restlessly and looked up at me. I gave him a halfhearted smile and uncrossed my legs, allowing them to rest over the edge of the bed.

"Cadena, you go train by yourself, will you? I'm going to go visit a couple of people." Anakin said at last, standing up.

I raised an eyebrow, wondering how to react and then finally opted by asking, "Who are you going to visit?"

Anakin shrugged and walked towards the door, waiting for me. "Just some good friends." He says calmly. I tilted my head at him, wondering if I should believe in him or not but then stood up.

I walked out the door and he followed right after me. I watched as he closed the door and he turned to me, obviously sensing my disappointment.

"Aw, don't give me that look now." Anakin says, tousling my hair. I scowled and swatted his hand away. "Can you blame me? We haven't seen each other for ages and now you want to see a couple of friends?" I asked, crossing my arms.

Anakin gave me a strained smirk and tugged at my pony tail. "Tonight, I'll make it up to you by bringing you over to Dex's. Does that sound okay?" He asked playfully.

I raised an eyebrow at him and he winked. "Deal?" He asks.

I sighed and allowed myself to loosen up. "Deal." I muttered.

Anakin chuckles and patted my back. "Alright, then Cadena. I'll be seeing you later." He said and ran off. I shook my head but grinned. How Obi-wan managed to say 'no' to him always surprised me.

I smirked after the direction that Anakin was running in and walked off to the training room.

•◊•

I found myself completely and utterly alone in the training room, except maybe a couple of younglings who were watching me with an impressed expression on their faces.

I smiled to myself, remembering the same sensation that I had whenever I watched Padawans stroll around the Temple with their Masters.

I felt someone tug at my tunic and turned around, grinning when I spotted a familiar Togruti face.

"Aamani!" I said happily, giving her a hug.

Aamani giggles and says, "Hi, Cadena!"

Aamani was around four years old when Anakin and I picked her up from Shili to bring her to the Temple. She was like a little sister of mine, and it had been a long time since I've last seen her. She was actually brought to Shili from Ahsoka, and Anakin and I just happened to stumble along to find her.

Now, at the young age of eight, she was becoming much more skilled and growing strength each and every day from the looks of it. I knew that she would become a great Jedi Knight one day.

"So…did you make your 'saber yet?" I asked as I stood up.

Aamani shook her head. "I think I'll be going soon, though." She says cheerfully, twirling around. I grinned and said, "You'll do great."

Aamani nodded cheerfully and asks, "When did you make your light saber, Cadena?" I tilted my head, trying to remember and then snapped my fingers. "I was around twelve, I think." I said, bringing out my light saber. I ignited the blade to show Aamani the emerald light and she smiles.

"This weapon is your life, probably one of the most vital necessities of being a Jedi." I said solemnly. Aamani listened with wide eyes, nodding. I grinned and whispered, "Keep it close to you and don't ever lose it."

Aamani nods again and she asks, "Did you ever lose your light saber?" I smiled guiltily and deactivated my weapon. "Eh…a couple times." I said, blushing. "But…well, that's a story for another day."

Aamani grins. "Okay." She says cheerfully. I grinned and she skipped off to join her friends and sighed at her small form.

"Don't ever grow up." I whispered out loud to myself and smiled.

Maybe one day I would have my own Padawan…maybe I'd be old enough to take Aamani as my own apprentice. I giggled quietly to myself, shaking my head. I was thinking too fast.

I activated my light saber and went back to practicing my forms.

•◊•

I walked into Ahsoka's apartment and smiled as I watched her tickle my son.

"Hey, Cadena." Ahsoka says, and handed him to me. I smiled gently and felt my eyes began to sting with tears again as bright, blue eyes looked up at me with curiosity.

"I still don't know what to call him." I whispered, blushing. Ahsoka grins and shrugged. "Well…the name will come in time. For now, though, we'll just call him your child." She says.

I smirked, looking over to Ahsoka. "I'm always gonna call him my child, even with a proper birth name." I said, bouncing my son a bit.

The little baby squealed with delight and I fingered the small strands of his hair.

"Jim stopped by earlier today. I think he's still trying to get used to being the father and everything." Ahsoka says, laughing.

I sighed as my son's eyes slowly began to close. "Well, of course he's trying to get used to it. I don't blame him for being a little awkward about it." I said, smiling.

Ahsoka nods as I lowered the baby back into the crib. "Well…I'm off. I'll see you around, Ahsoka." I said.

Ahsoka nodded again and then she asks, "Wait, Cadena, did you hear from Anakin yet?"

I blinked and turned around. "What do you mean? All he told me was that he was going to visit some of his friends." I said slowly. Ahsoka raises an eye marking and I could tell from her voice that she was choosing her words carefully. "Oh…did you hear from Senator Admidala, then?" She asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Senator Admidala? What would Senator—" I frowned. I knew that Padmé and Anakin were good friends, and I knew that Anakin must be visiting her, but why was Ahsoka looking so uneasy?

"Never mind." Ahsoka says quickly, shaking her head. "Forget I said anything."

I nodded calmly, but my thoughts were racing inside my head. What would Ahsoka be hiding from me?

More importantly, what would Anakin be hiding from me?

•◊•

I tapped my fingers thoughtfully against the coffee table's surface in our shared quarters, recalling Ahsoka's guilty eyes and the tension in her voice. What could possibly be going on?

Anakin walked into the room, his eyes tired and his brow furrowed in concern and worry. I could tell from the stiffness in his muscles that he was thinking, and whatever he was thinking about was bothering him.

I clasped my hands together on my lap and watched him with a blank expression on my face, trying to conceal my emotions towards him.

Anakin sighed to himself and he finally turned to look at me. "Hey, Cadena. Are you ready?" He asks, picking up his cloak.

I regarded him carefully and then nodded. "Yes, I am." I replied stiffly and picked up my own cloak from the hook.

Anakin nods, not knowing or not caring to the cold notes in my voice and opened the door for me.

What a gentlemen.

I rolled my eyes to myself and we slowly walked through the halls, not acknowledging each other. I could feel Anakin getting even tenser through each step we walked and when we reached our speeder, I thought that his hands were going to break from being clenched so tightly.

I plopped myself into a seat as Anakin began to drive and I frowned as I turned to look at him. His eyes were staring into the void and I finally pulled the brake before he could crash us into another speeder.

"What?" Anakin asks in a harsh tone when I flicked him.

"Let's switch spots. I'm driving." I said in a flat tone and Anakin blinks, his eyes somewhat unfocused. "What are you talking about? I'm fine." Anakin says, struggling against me as I tried to pull him out of the seat.

"No, you're not. You almost crashed us into a couple speeders." I said, putting my hands on my hips.

Anakin turned, his eyes wide. "I did?" He asks meekly.

I rolled my eyes. "C'mon. Something is obviously distracting you and so I think the best thing for us now is for us to at least switch the driving." I said dully.

Anakin gave me a weak smile and he sat himself down in the passenger seat.

I managed to smirk at him and I drove ourselves in front of Dex's Diner, a familiar place that we often went for some celebration.

"Thanks." Anakin says as he jumps out of the speeder. I turned to him and just rolled my eyes.

Anakin rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and we walked in.

I slid into a booth and Anakin sat across from me as a waitress handed us our menus.

I looked up at Anakin and he looks to face me at the same time. I raised an eyebrow at him and he mirrors my facial expression.

"Brualki brisket."

"Creamed Rishi Corn Soup."

I smirked and said smugly, "You were wrong. I'm getting bantha steak this time." Anakin's face fell and he shook his head, laughing lightly. "Well, you were right for me. I actually was going to get the brisket." He says.

I threw the menu teasingly at Anakin's head and he caught it, smirking.

It was a little game that my master and I have created—we'd guess what the other was going to get. Most of the time, Anakin was correct, but I suppose today he just wasn't in the mood.

I watched as Anakin relayed our orders to the waitress and turned to look out the window, where the Coruscant lights shone and speeders raced by.

Anakin had gone silent again and for a long time, he remained that way until the food came. He didn't even bother looking over to me and the only noises between us were the occasional sigh or the clatter of the utensils scraping against the plates. I brought my cup up to my lips and nonchalantly took a quiet sip and then slammed the cup down, causing Anakin to flinch.

I crossed my arms and leaned against the back of the booth's built in chairs. "Alright, Master, spill it. You haven't been talking to me at all." I hissed, narrowing my eyes at him.

Anakin didn't make eye contact with me but instead continued to poke at his food. "Why do you say that, Cadena? Can't I just think once in a while?" He asks.

I frowned. "Yeah, but not saying a single word to me while we're eating? That's a new one, Master and you know it!" I said indignantly.

Anakin looks up at me and asks, "What are you talking about?"

I bit my lower lip and said shakily, "Ahsoka and I talked today."

Anakin became stiffer, (if that was even possible,) and says in a low voice, "Cadena, I—"

I shook my head. "Master, what's going on? Ever since last night you've been acting strange. Can't you tell me at least a little bit? And I know that Senator Admidala is involved, as well so don't bother lying." I snapped.

Anakin's eyes widened and he looked down at the table. "Cadena, I trust you with my life, you know that." He says softly.

I nodded, unsure where he was going with this.

"Well…I can't have you carry the burden of keeping my own secrets. I'm sorry, Cadena, but I can't allow you to take the risk for me." Anakin said at last.

A/N: I actually went on Wookiepedia and searched up Dex's Diner menu so...that's how I know the foods. :)

Cadena: Don't try the cave slug. It's disgusting.

Anakin: Did I ever tell you the time I had to eat bugs?

Cadena: ...what?

Obi-wan: *grimaces* I still don't see how you could actually eat that...

Anakin: *shrug* I got it from the enemy base.

Cadena: *mouth drops open* Master, the enemy base? There's only DROIDS over there! They don't eat!

Anakin: *shrugs again*

Cadena: ...disgusting.

Anakin: Hey, out in the battlefront, you can't exactly complain about the food. :P

Ahsoka: Says the man who was whining about the government rations the other night. -_-

Anakin: Okay, that stuff is nasty! It tastes like sand! And you KNOW how much I hate sand!

Me: Anakin, you're from Tatooine. I would think you'd get used to it.

Anakin: *glares*

Me: *shrink* Okay, never mind. Don't mention Tatooine-Tatooine BAD.

Anakin: Thank you.

Me: Er...Cadena...you mind...?

Cadena: *still disgusted by image of Anakin eating bugs* ...er...sure. *clears throat* Um...please review, give feedback, *sudden image of Anakin eating bugs pops into head again...shudders* and...no hate comments.

Anakin: Why are you looking at me funny?

Cadena: *shakes head and rubs eyes* Bugs...Force...*Wanders away*

Obi-wan: I think you scarred her, Anakin.

Anakin: What?

Me: Never mind. -_-

Anakin: Seriously, what? The bugs eating thing? Aw, come on! It's not THAT bad! You should try it!

Obi-wan: *turns slightly green*

Me: *clears throat* Ehm...see ya later, everyone!