Chapter Eleven Unlikely Allies

[One review on chapter 9 said something about Shaak Ti should probably have a talk with Ahsoka, yeah that will be later and not about her hunter state but oh trust me that will be a talk… hehehe]

They had been fighting for a few more months on a few more planets. Generally they were both in control and it seemed that as time passed, Ahsoka would shift less and less as she got used to the things at hand. Anakin still kept her close when he could, still stole kisses when they were in private, and held her close to him whenever they'd get a moment to rest.

The last battle had been the worst, and now Anakin was pacing back and forth in the hall of the medical wing in the Temple. They'd rushed back when it had happened but it was still far too shocking.

"Anakin, she's going to be fine…" Obi-wan commented as he turned the corner seeing the sight in the waiting room.

"How do you know that… she wasn't moving…" he sat down resting his head in his hands and felt Obi-wan sit next to him.

They'd been leading the last battle trying to reach the checkpoint for days. The enemy was launching bomb after bomb at them, one hit her squad, he saw her get knocked to the ground, he ran over but she wasn't moving… she was breathing but he couldn't wake her. There had been too many casualties from those explosions so they all returned, she was stabilized on the ship but now she was at the temple, they wouldn't let him in… he couldn't be near her.

"Because Anakin, she's stronger than any of us could even imagine." The older man placed his hand on the other's shoulder.

"Anakin…" they both looked up seeing Padmé walking down the hall she took in the sight before her and her face fell. "The chancellor told me Ahsoka got hurt…" her voice was soft and she sat in front of him.

"They are still talking…" He said and Obi-wan left them alone. At one point Anakin had been very much in love with Padmé but it changed as they both grew older. They both agreed they were far better as friends, she was married, they told each other everything still.

"She's going to be alright Anakin…" Padmé assured softly and stayed with him for several hours until he was allowed to see her. Ahsoka had been put in a bacta tank to aid in her recovery, her chest and waist were wrapped in bandages and she was hooked up to a respirator.

"What happened?" she asked and the doctor looked up from his final checks

"Knight Tano's Lekku and Montrals are damaged from multiple blast concussions, there's some bruising a few days in here and she will be fine."

"You're sure…" Anakin's eyes were fixed on her form.

"Yes Master Skywalker, she will make a full recovery, she might need another week after the bacta tank though I'll send the request for the council-"

"That won't be necessary Doctor, I will request them as escorts to Naboo, I assure you there is no risk of a fight, but it's always good to have Jedi in these uncertain times." Her voice was the perfect picture of diplomacy. The doctor only nodded and wrote it down on her chart before he left.

"I can take you to the council if you'd want…" Anakin's voice was distant

"Alright and then let's go get something to eat, Clovis will be back in a bit, it will be nice to catch up…"

"But…" he looked back at her and Padmé sighed

"It will do you no good to sit here and wallow… Anakin, this isn't your fault it would have happened to one or both of you at some point…" She practically dragged him out of the medical hall and to the council's chambers. Their diplomatic mission to Naboo was approved and Anakin begrudgingly left the temple.

Padmé decided they'd go back to the senate apartments; she called Clovis to let them know they'd have an extra and explained, briefly, why. They arrived and the two men greeted one another before they settled to have dinner, the conversation was generally pleasant and soon after dinner Clovis retired stating his meetings had tired him.

Anakin took another sip from his glass the feeling of the alcohol starting to ease his tensions.

"Now talk," she started crossing her arms over her chest.

"What do you mean?" he asked and she gave him a stern look

"Anakin… Ahsoka left the Jedi Order… then several months ago you found her and she just returned… how the hell did you manage that?" she asked

"She just… wanted to come home…"

"I'm not buying it… Anakin what happened on Shili…" Padmé asked sternly

"I found her… and she did want to come home but she wanted to leave peacefully."

"Please tell me you didn't…" she started

"No!" he stopped her "It wasn't a real one…" they both understood what the other was talking about

"Anakin, you know what the Chancellor said to me today, he said Ahsoka's going into berserker rages!" she threw her hands up. "And how lovely it was to have something that powerful on our side…" she sat down on the couch "What has been happening?"

"I wouldn't call them berserker rages… they are just hunter states… she hasn't lost control in months!" he replied "I talked to Master Ti, Ahsoka been controlling it…"

"Anakin… answer me this… right now…" he nodded for her to go on. "Are you in love with her?" she asked coming to stand in front of him. Anakin bent his head and was silent for many minutes.

"Yes…" his voice came out broken and his eyes were pained when he looked up. "Attachments are forbidden…" he repeated and Padmé laughed

"Anakin Skywalker you have never once followed that rule in your life!" she all but screamed in exasperation. "If you love her than tell her, you brought her back! You did that! No one else could have ever done that except you…" she let out a heavy sigh "Are you afraid?" she questioned and he nodded

"What if I lose her…? I could have lost her today… you didn't see it… gods she was so cold… she felt lifeless like on Mortis…" he rattled off and she shushed him softly

"You're not going to lose her, you're both too strong for that, Anakin she's not that little Padawan that you were dumped with on Christophsis, she's grown up! She's an adult now, she's a Jedi Knight, she's a skilled leader, and she can match you in every way and then some! And you are not going to lose her, just like she's not going to lose you…" she drummed in. "The two of you are going to be fine, you're going to help end this stupid war and then she's going to take a learner of her own and you're going to laugh about all the little things that Padawan will do to her. Anakin, I can't watch you beat yourself up over this anymore…" she admitted "I've never seen you in that much pain… or that drunk…" she chuckled and he offered a half smile.

"She gets aggressive…" he laughed, he knew he could trust Padme and showed her Ahsoka's latest bite mark

"My god…" she giggled and sat down again. "Anakin, you know what doing that would mean to her right?" she questioned with rapt attention on hi response.

"Yeah I know… she explained it, I did some research about it…"

"If that happens… I'd be careful around others of her species… they will probably be able to tell right away based on her body language." Padme warned and it elicited a groan from Anakin. "I have to ask… how far…" She paused letting out an awkward laugh which Anakin joined in on before scratching the back of his head.

"Not far really… when you're fighting in a war there's hardly any time… when the battles are long she will kinda slip into that hunting state of mind… makes her possessive as all hell." He chuckled lightly

"She's a great Jedi, it's good to have her back…" she sighed still troubled by the conversation she and the Chancellor had that morning in regards to the Togrutan Knight.

"She has siblings…" Anakin uttered "Her brother was the only one I met… he didn't like me…" he added and Padme laughed

"I can't imagine why, as far as her tribe is concerned you're mated with her…"

"She really has grown…" he mused leaning back against his own seat. "I saw her shortly after I came to the temple… she was just a toddler… but it was in the gardens…" he smiled fondly at the memory.

Ahsoka, along with the rest of her age group, were having some time outside. Ahsoka looked at the patch of Turu grass in the gardens turning one of the blades over in her hands. He remembered Master Yoda coming up to her and telling her it was from her home world. Yoda held up the orange and white patterned grass next to her skin explaining it was useful for her people to hide but that Akul would hide as well. Anakin heard the toddler group's giggles as they all hid in the tall grasses pretending to be creatures they'd never actually seen.

"She's a born hunter." Padme interjected. They continued idly chatting about various things until she deemed Anakin sober enough to go back to the temple and not make a complete ass of himself.

"She'll be fine, let me know when she wakes I'll bring her favorite food, I'm sure it will be better than anything the hospital has." She offered and he smiled before leaving to go to her room. Anakin sat next to the bacta tank watching her float idly in its solution.

A few days passed and Ahsoka was slowly woken up the doctor said she'd be fine after some down time and as promised Padmé came with her favorite food which did brighten her mood immensely.

"Heard you weren't doing too hot, thought this would cheer you up." She smiled brining something she and Anakin could eat. Ahsoka being Togrutan and not human had different nutritional needs and certain foods they could eat would in turn make her sick and vice versa.

The three chatted until Ahsoka was starting to fall asleep, at that point Anakin went to his chambers to pack for their trip and Padmé left going to her own home.

[A/n: I hope you are all liking it as always suggestions and reviews are welcome there might be smut happening soon. Current suggestions are
Anakin and Ahsoka finding out about order 66 (I think that will play nicely with the rebels series with rex and some of the others removing their chips)
Shaak Ti having a chat with Ahsoka regarding her hunting rages- they are going to have a nice chat but not about that.
Master Yoda knowing about the ceremony was one comment- no he will not but he might be able to tell if they become mated
As always Please review and just as a note- I write between 2-3 chapters in advance for example right now chapter 9 is the latest but 10 and 11 are done and 12 might be by the time I upload 10]