POV: Anakin Skywalker

"Palpatine thinks Grievous is on Utapau?" Master Mundi questioned as we had all gathered in the Council chambers. He, of course, among others like Master Yoda, was a hologram.

I shifted nervously in my seat, seeing as though Yoda was still on Kashyyyk. I was tense because I wouldn't be able to tell what he was thinking very easily. "A partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic package from the chairman of Utapau."

"Hm, act on this, we must. The capture of General Grievous will end this war. Quickly and decisively, we should proceed."

I thought back to the transmission that I'd received from Palpatine while I was heading back to the temple. He'd contacted me, asking where I'd gone, so I'd told him that I was going to inform the Council of his thoughts. He agreed and confidently suggested that I go to Utapau and finish off Grievous. As much as I wanted to go, I knew I'd have to bring this up with the Council. I desperately hoped that I might go on a mission…

"The Chancellor has requested… that I lead the campaign."

I saw Yoda's look. It was a look of pure distrust, making me feel guilty for even speaking.

"The Council will make up its own mind who is to go," Windu glared at me. "Not the Chancellor."

"A Master is needed, with more experience," Yoda said.

"I concur. Master Kenobi should go."

"I agree," Yoda replied, shooting me down.

"I," Master Mundi said.

"I," Windu spoke. "Very well, Council adjourned."

All of the holograms disappeared, leaving the real life inside of the room. Everyone's stares towards me made me feel uncomfortable. "Master Kenobi," Windu boomed. "You will leave immediately. Dismissed."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied, bowing.

I stood from my seat, attempting to leave quickly before Windu's stare could drown me. I made it out of the chamber and Obi-Wan called out for me. "Anakin, wait!"

I turned around as he caught up to me. "Walk with me to the hangar, Anakin."

I nodded silently and we began to head towards the hangar bay. His star cruiser would take him to Utapau and he would go in alone so as not to draw attention to himself.

We walked around a bit until we neared the cruiser. "You're going to need me on this one, Master."

"Oh, I agree. However, it may turn out just to be a wild bantha chase."

"Master," I whispered, making him stop to face me. "I've disappointed you. I haven't been very appreciative of your training. I've been arrogant and I apologize. I've just been so frustrated with the Council."

He smiled. "You are strong and wise, Anakin, and I am very proud of you. I have trained you since you were a small boy. I have taught you everything I know and you have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be, but be patient, Anakin. It will not be long before the Council makes you a Jedi Master."

I smiled and he smiled wider. He nodded and turned to head down the ramp towards his cruiser, knowing it was time to go.

I pulled my cloak around me. "Obi-Wan, may the Force be with you."

He turned around smiling. "Good-bye, old friend. May the Force be with you."

I watched sadly as he continued on his way. I wished desperately that I could go with him, that I could just get off of this planet for a while. I needed some action and I knew that Ahsoka probably did, too. I wondered where in the temple she was right now.

I shook my head, realizing that I needed to go see Padme once again. After I'd left her, I'd begun to miss her and now I wanted to see her more than ever. Obi-Wan was gone for who knows how long. He wouldn't return until Grievous was destroyed or ran off again.

I walked out of the hangar and began to head outside, toward the lot where I hoped my airspeeder was.

Luckily, I was right. I sighed, shaking my head. There was no reason for me to doubt the fact that it was here. Ahsoka was a very good listener, pilot, and friend. She wouldn't bang up the speeder or leave it somewhere.

I hopped in, flying toward Padme's apartment.

When I entered, Padme was humming in another room, working on her laundry. I smiled, walking over to the couch. I laid down on it and thought back to a lot of what's been going on lately. All the stress that was inside of me was washing over into everyone else. I knew that both Padme and Ahsoka were concerned about me, but there was nothing either of them could do. Well, the only thing they could do was to keep themselves alive…

I heard a clattering inside a compartment on my belt. I raised my eyebrow, reaching down to open it. The necklace I'd been planning on giving Padme rolled into my hand along with my wedding ring. I sighed in relief, removing my glove to put it on. I saw a holopad on the table and grabbed it.

I laid my head back on the armrest of the couch, glancing at the holopad for a moment. A flash appeared before my eyes and I could see a vague image of Obi-Wan. I lurched into an upright position, throwing my legs over the side of the couch, though I couldn't physically see myself doing it.

"Save your energy," he whispered calmly to her.

Padme's face appeared and she was in pain, breathing heavily. "I can't."

"Don't give up, Padme."

She shook her head, closing her eyes slowly until her face fell to the side, one last heavy sigh erupting from her lips. The vision drew further from my sight until it vanished and I could see clearly in Padme's apartment.

I glanced at the holopad, losing interest in reading whatever was on it. I put it beside me on the couch as Padme walked out into the living room, folding over one of her robes. I could sense Obi-Wan's Force signature around the room clearly.

She walked behind the couch. "Obi-Wan's been here, hasn't he?"

She reached out and rested a hand on my back as I turned around. "He came by this morning."

"What did he want?" I asked, standing up. I walked beside her into the bedroom.

"He's worried about you. He says you've been under a lot of stress," she whispered.

I stopped in the doorway, sighing. "I feel lost."

"Lost? What do you mean?"

"Obi-Wan and the Council don't trust me," I replied, walking over to the window.

"They trust you with their lives."

"Something's happening. I'm not the Jedi I should be," I said, turning to see her confused look. "I want more and I know I shouldn't."

She came closer to me, touching my arm. "You expect too much of yourself."

I rubbed my temples quickly before turning to her. I rested my hand on her waist for a moment. "I found a way to save you."

"Save me?" she whispered, placing her hands on my chest.

"From my nightmares." I moved my hand up to rub arm lightly.

"Is that what's bothering you?"

"I won't lose you, Padme…" I whispered.

"I'm not going to die in childbirth, Ani," she said confidently as I stroked the side of her face. "I promise you."

"No. I promise you."

She stared up at me sadly. "Ani, please, don't worry about me. The baby and I are very healthy. Nothing bad is going to happen to either of us."

I leaned down to kiss her lightly, but passionately. I wrapped my arms around her, closing my eyes.

Once we separated, she smiled. "I love you, Anakin."

"And I love you, my beautiful Senator."

She reached up to run her fingers through my hair. My comlink began to beep. I sighed in frustration. "Why is it that I just left and they couldn't tell me whatever it was while I was there?"

"Ani," she whispered. "Calm down, my love. What if it's Ahsoka?"

I sighed, raising my wrist to my face. "Skywalker."

POV: Ahsoka Tano

"Skywalker," he muttered into the com. He sounded really frustrated and I regretted comming him, but I wanted to let him know that we'd just received a mission.

"Master, it's me."

"Oh, Ahsoka," he said, sounding happier. "Is something wrong?"

"Why do you always assume that something's wrong? Nothing's wrong. Anyway, I was just letting you know that we've been given a mission. I know you've been looking forward to one and, though you said we couldn't get one for a while, we just did."

"With you, anything is possible. That's great! What's our objective?"

"Senator…" I glanced down at my datapad. "Fang Zar of Sern Prime was kidnapped earlier today. We are to take a squadron of clones to Jabiim to rescue him. He was last seen in the hands of Count Dooku."

"Great, Jabiim…" he sighed. "We're going to get rained on, so be prepared, Snips. Ready the troops and we'll leave as soon as I get there, okay?"

"Are you on your way right now?"

"Mhm," he replied. I heard whispering in the background, but he wouldn't know that I could hear it. For all I knew, it was most likely Padme. I knew that's where he would be. "On my way now, Snips. Meet me in the hangar."

"All right. I'll see you soon, Master."

I closed the connection, sighing. I wished that I'd kept his ring. He might not have needed it tonight, but I wished I could just put it inside the compartment on my belt and carry it. On missions, he'd get reckless and try to overprotect the others, including myself.

He knew I was capable of defending myself, but he continued to treat me like a youngling. I thought back to one of our most recent – as in two months ago – missions. I had been captured by Bane once again and my Master had charged in, risking his life to save me.

Bane tortured him for three days before he'd figured out a way to escape, that being playing dead. I'd been so terrified that he'd actually perished because of me, but when I saw him wink at me, I'd been so relieved.

Bane certainly hadn't expected him to pull such a stunt and be able to pull it off. Once he was unsuspended, he'd pulled his lightsaber from a shelf and killed Bane. He knew that he would be reprimanded by the Council for doing something that was not the way of the Jedi, but he'd risked that for me.

I sighed, heading out of our dorm and walking down the countless hallways until I reached the hangar. Of course, I got there first, so I sat on the deck, waiting for him to arrive.

I pulled my knees to my chest. I stared out at the darkening sky of Coruscant. I saw speeders fly over the temple, heard clones chattering in the main hangar, and felt the tension in the area. I pulled my comlink to my face and contacted Captain Rex. "Captain Rex."

"Rex, we've got a mission. Can you ready the others and bring them to the hangar?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you, Rex," I whispered, closing the connection. I rested my head on the wall for a few minutes, listening to the clones' laughter and the repairs to damaged cruisers and star fighters.

"Are you okay, Snips?"

I jumped, glancing up to see my Master's warm smile. He extended his arm, reaching out for me. I gratefully gripped his hand, nodding. "I'm fine, Master. How about you?"

"Just fine."

He held onto my hand, staring into my eyes. It was the most amazing thing ever because I could easily melt at the sight of them. His eyes drew me in and I could see the real him.

"All set?" he quickly asked, prying his gaze away from me. I did the same, reluctantly pulling my hand out of his.

"You bet I am."

He smirked, playfully punching my arm. "Race you to the cruiser, Snips?"

"You're on, Skyguy," I laughed.

Once again, I assumed he was going to cheat, but he actually played fair.

He still won.