Chapter 14

Ahsoka and Anakin lounged on the floor of the training room after finishing up their rigorous sparring match. The room was empty, which seemed to be a common occurrence when they trained together. Ahsoka figured it likely had more to do with the fact that they tended to get out of hand and move all over the place. It was hard for them to be confined to one spot, especially when the young Togruta had learned most of her combat skills in open spaces.

"They're sending you out on a lot of missions by yourself," Anakin commented before accepting the canteen Ahsoka held out to him.

"I've noticed," she replied with a small smile as she flopped onto her back. She stared up at the high arches that made the Jedi Temple ceiling. It was ostentatious, which was very much against Jedi custom.

Anakin laid down next to her, "I started going on a lot of missions by myself when the Council was considering me for knighthood."

Her eyes widened, elation buzzing at her skin, as she rolled onto her side to look at her Master. "You think they might be?"

He chuckled and smiled up at her, "I don't know, Snips. I was just making an observation."

Ahsoka pouted before propping herself up with her elbow. She watched Anakin as his eyes slid closed, the rise and fall of his chest. The way his lips moved with each inhale. He was very handsome, even more so then she really believed. She'd missed him these past couple of weeks, between her mission on Onderon and the trip to Ilum almost immediately after that. She missed how much stronger his presence was when he stood beside her, though their love always felt a little bit more prominent when they were apart. Distance definitely made their hearts grow fonder because all she wanted to do right now was kiss him, even though they were in a public area of the Temple.

Her hand reached out of its own accord, brushing a stray lock of hair out of his face. His eyes snapped open and he stared at her. She ran her fingers through her hair. When she became a Jedi Knight, she'd have to move out of their apartment. She wouldn't be able to sleep by Anakin's side anymore and their meditation sessions would become much less frequent, if they happened at all. She didn't even know how often she would see him; they would be sent on different missions on different planets.

He grabbed her hand and pressed a quick kiss to the back of it. She smiled faintly at him. It didn't matter though. Nothing mattered as long as he loved her and she loved him. She interlaced their fingers together, feeling the thrum of his pulse in his palm. Their love was stronger than distance. Stronger than meditation. Stronger than even the Jedi Council.

Their love knew no bounds.

She felt their love when she jumped from the tunnels.

She felt their love when she ran from the police.

She felt their love when she allied with Ventress.

She felt their love when she was captured.

She felt their love when the Order expelled her.

She felt their love throughout her trial.

She felt their love when Barriss's betrayal was revealed.

She felt their love when the Council welcomed her back.

She felt their love when she looked Anakin in the eye and closed his fingers, fingers she so often held and kissed, around her Padawan silka beads.

She felt their love when she whispered, "I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not coming back."

She felt their love when her chest tightened, like someone had ripped her heart from her body.

She felt their love when she turned her back on the Council.

She felt it as she walked past the pillars.

She felt it as Anakin chased after her.

She felt it as she finally turned to face him, tears forming in her eyes.

She felt it as she told him, "Without the Council. And without you."

And their love stuttered, but it was still there, as strong and boundless as it always was. As unhindered by hate as it always was. Their love was still there and it broke her.

So she cut off their bond. Horror flashed across Anakin's features, but for the first time in years, she couldn't feel it. The space in her heart that he always filled was empty, hollow and dark. She hugged her arms to her body and spun around and, with nothing but the clothes on her back, she left.

It took him less than a day to find her, preparing to board the immigration ship out of Coruscant. She didn't know where she would go, but she needed to leave this planet. Because of the lack of a connection between them, she didn't notice him until he caught her arm. She spun, startled and ready for a fight, but Anakin just stared at her. "Come back," he said, his voice low until it cracked on the next word. "Please."

"I..." she stepped away, but his grip only tightened as desperation filled his features. "I can't, Ani. I can't do this anymore. They didn't trust me. They didn't believe me! They would've let me die."

His breath stuttered in his chest and she could feel the sob building up in her chest. She inhaled shakily, "And I can't live knowing that I'm not allowed to love you. What if they find out about us? Do you think they're just going to let it slide? No, we'll just go through this entire thing again except-"

"Except I'll be by your side," he said softly. "Come back, 'Soka. Come back and I'll keep the Council off your back. Just come be with me. And if you ever want to leave again, I'll let you, I promise. But I need you. The Galaxy needs you. Jedi are dying left and right and if you won't come back for me, then come back for the people that need you. You're too skilled and too loving to turn your back on them. If you leave now, you'll get involved in some other way. At least this way, I know you're alive."

Fuck. He always knew just what to say to her. She reached up, pressing a cold hand to his cheek. He leaned into her touch, eyes hopeful. "Okay," she sighed and shook her head with a fond smile. "But I'm holding you to that promise."

Relief flooded his face as he leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. Almost immediately, they both slipped into a meditative state. His signature reached out for hers and she reached for his. And it was like their bond had never been broken. Their love passed between them, strong enough to send them stumbling back from each other. Anakin whooped and, without caring who could see, picked her up by the waist and whirled her around. "Force, I love you," he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

She giggled and buried her face into his robes, inhaling his scent. Her heart was full again, but something still weighed on her, like a shadow in the corner of her eye. She lifted her gaze to his face and he looked down at her. Their love was as strong and boundless as it always was, but something else was there. Betrayal from the Order had created a small pocket of darkness within her. It wasn't as strong as the one she'd noticed in Anakin when they first meditated together, the one she chased away every time she encountered it, but it was there.

And it pulsed with life.

Done with Season 5 in one fell swoop. Now onto mostly original content and concepts. Happy New Years, everyone!