Anakin, Cardek, and Ahsoka made it to Anakin's camp in minutes. The clones watched as they came through with the twins. They went straight to Anakin's tent. Cardek laid Ahsoka on the cot to let her rest. He and Anakin washed the twins off and put them in a basket big enough to hold both of them with blankets. They left the tent to let all three of them rest.
"Cardek, the clones found your ship and we got our supplies. It wasn't that damaged by the storm. I can fix it right up and you can leave when Ahsoka wakes up."
"Sounds good to me."
"Good. So, what was it like birthing the twins?"
"Well...it was tough, panic-filled, and mentally scarring and disturbing. But it was all worth it."
"I would think Ahsoka would be more panicked than you. She was the one giving birth to them."
"Oh she was more panicked. She was practically screaming at me that this was all my fault."
"How was it your fault? You're not the one that got her pregnant." He glared at him. "Right?"
"Hey, don't go accusing me! Do the twins have any resemblance to me? It was probably the pain talking."
"You know, part of me is glad I wasn't there. I don't like when Ahsoka screams at me."
"I know. It's not pretty. We fought for a few moments during the labor, until I told her to shut up and start pushing."
"You told her to shut up? What did she say?"
"She said it was my fault she was stuck in a cave while in labor because I had a bad feeling and didn't stop us. It kinda escalated a bit until I just had enough."
"She must have been in a whole lot of pain to accuse that of being your fault."
"Tell me about it. It kinda pained me to be forced to watch her in so much pain. But it's all over now."
"She's out of pain and she has two beautiful twins. Too bad they'll be taken from her." He stiffened in shock.
"What did you say?"
"Ahsoka won't be able to keep the twins. The Council found out she had a relationship with Bane and wasn't raped." His eyes widened.
"W-What do you mean? How...?"
"They questioned Bane and he said they had a relationship. It was confirmed by witnesses. According to the Code, she can't keep the twins." Anger swelled up in him and he clenched his fists. 'That ! Just when everything was finally looking up, he had to go and screw us over! He just had to get the last laugh, had to take those babies away from Ahsoka! Well I let him have that satisfaction!
"Cardek?"
"I won't let you take the babies."
"I have no choice and neither does she."
"Yes, you do have a choice! So she made a mistake, so what? She's come to regret it, and she has learned from it! I've forgiven her for it, why can't you do the same? You're her freakin master!"
"You watch your tone with me, Cardek! I can't do anything about the Council's decision! It's final! There's nothing I can do!"
"Screw the Council and screw the Code! I'll go up there and make them change their minds if I have to! This isn't right! Yeah, Ahsoka may have made a huge mistake, but the Council isn't doing the right thing! These are Ahsoka's babies, and she has come to love them! If they are taken from her like this, against her, do you know what will happen? She'll hate you, she'll hate the Council, she'll hate the Jedi! She'll fall to the dark side because of that hatred! The Jedi aren't always right!"
"Don't you ever say that! Ahsoka will never turn to the dark side because of her babies! I know she loves them and doesn't want to lose them, but she can't keep them! I tried to get the Council to change their minds, but they won't! If I can't can't change their minds, then you can't!"
"I don't care! I'll change their minds one way or another! Don't you get it? This is all part of Bane's game! This is what he wants! He has been screwing with me and Ahsoka for months! He raped her in front of me, he's been screwing with my head with lies and words! What he wants is Ahsoka, and he knows he can't have her thanks to the babies! He deliberately told you so that they would be taken from her, so that way, nothing will stop him when leaps in on a vulnerable Ahsoka and takes her from us! Don't fall into his game dammit!" Carth and Amai started to cry.
"Great. You woke the twins." Cardek glared at Anakin, then went to the twins. He picked them both up and began to rock them gently.
"Don't cry, little ones. Don't cry. I can't stand to see you cry. You mean the world to me, along with your mother. Please, don't make daddy sad." Carth calmed down, but Amai continued to cry.
"Maybe she's hungry." He slowly nodded.
"Perhaps. That means that we have to wake Ahsoka." He slowly glared at Anakin. "And that means that you're going to have tell her the news. So go ahead and break her heart. Oh, and one more thing. I don't care if Bane conceived them, their my children as well. I am their father, and I've gone through too much to let you and the Council take them from me."
"Don't start with me, Cardek. I know you and Ahsoka love the twins and I don't want them taken either but..." Ahsoka woke up.
"Cardek? Master? What's going on?" Cardek was silent, but handed Amai to her.
"Amai is hungry..." She carefully took her and started to feed her.
"What were you two arguing about?"
"I think Anakin should tell you." He turned to Anakin with an angry look. "Go ahead, Anakin. Tell her."
"What is he talking about, Master?" He glared at Cardek.
"I don't believe now is the best time."
"If you don't tell her right now, I will! So pick your poison!"
"Fine!" He turned to Ahsoka.
"Snips, I don't know how to tell you this."
"Tell me what?"
"You're not going to be able to keep the twins." Her eyes widened and she turned to Cardek.
"What is he talking about?"
"The Council found about your relationship with Bane! The deliberately told them about it, and the Council thinks taking away the babies is the "appropriate punishment" Appropriate punishment, my ass!"
"They can't take my babies."
"Ahsoka, you broke the rules and you have to pay the consequences."
"How is taking my babies punishing me? They're being taken away from their mother. I won't let you take them."
"She's right! You're not punishing her, you're punishing the babies! This is exactly what Bane wants! This is all part of his plan! I don't care if I have to fight you! I won't let you seperate our family!"
"Cardek! You're not even their real father!"
" I DON'T CARE! Bane never cared about them, and never will! I may not have conceived them, but I think of them as my children as much as they are Ahsoka's! By bonds and love, I am their father! And I will do everything I can to protect them!"
"LOOK! I have tried to talk to the Council, but they won't listen! Ahsoka's lucky they didn't expell her!"
"I would rather be expelled from the Order with my twins than stay without them!"
"Me too! If it means being with my family, I would leave the Order in the heartbeat with them! And if you're willing to do this, then I'll do it!"
"Where would you go? You two are both only seventeen! You wouldn't make it far in this world!"
"We've been able to get through this, and I have no doubt we will get by on our own! But I will only do it if Ahsoka wants to as well!" He turned to Ahsoka. "What do you say, Ahsoka? Are you willing to leave the Order?"
"If it means being with my children, then yes."
"Ahsoka, you're not thinking this through! You're not old enough to make these kinds of decisions on your own!"
"Master, I'm not as immature as you think! I can take care of myself!"
"So am I! We've been through hell and high water together to know exactly what to do! I've managed to make a few friends across the galaxy who would be happy to help us! Unless the Council rethinks their decision, then we're leaving!"
"Would you at least wait until you get back to the temple to make this decision?"
"Why? The Council never listens! If we try to plead with them, we'll be wasting our time."
"I could plead at them for five weeks and they still wouldn't listen! They are a bunch of stubborn, indifferent assholes! They only care about what's in the Code, never about what their actions might do to others around them! And this is the one action I will never condone!"
"If leaving the temple means being with my children, then that's what I'll do."
"No you're not, Ahsoka."
"You can't control my life decisions!"
"I am your master, Ahsoka, and you will listen to me! You are not leaving the temple!" He got in Anakin's face.
"You can't stop us! It's our choice, and you can't decide for us! I believe you when you say you tried to convince the Council, but now you're being their lapdog! If you care about Ahsoka as much as you say you do, then you'll let us go without a fight!" He pushed Cardek out his face.
"I care about Ahsoka just as much as you do! I'm thinking about what's best for her! If she leaves the temple, she's only putting her children and her own life at risk!"
"And we're thinking about what's best for the children! They need a mother and father that will love them and care for them! To teach them the right ideals! And that's what we'll be! No on else can do it but us! If you take them away and force us to stay in the Order, and we'll hate you! We'll hate the Order, adn we'll hate the Jedi! Now let me ask you this: Do you want to break Ahsoka's heart? Do you want her to hate you the rest of your life?"
"I love Ahsoka and I don't want to hurt her, but this is something I can't stop. If you leave, yes, the twins will have parents who love and care for them, but how will you take care of them?"
"We'll find a way! We've come too far to just give up like this! It's going to be tough, I know, it ain't going to be easy! But me and Ahsoka made up our minds that we'll take care of them! Like I said, I have friends across the galaxy who will help us every step of the way! We won't be alone in this! And if you want to help us, then stand aside and let us go! For once, Anakin, for once just listen to us and let us go! If you don't, then I'll be forced to fight you!"
"No! No one's fighting anyone!" She turned to Cardek. "Cardek, take the twins and wait outside. I need to talk to my master alone."
He nodded and took Amai from her. "I hope you can convince him. I just can't let these twins get taken away from us, no matter what he or anyone else says."
"I know. Just give me a few minutes with him."
"Alright." He turned around and went outside with the twins. Once Cardek left, Ahsoka turned to Anakin.
"Master, this is ridiculous. I can make these decisions on my own."
"No you can't! You're only seventeen! You have no idea what you're doing!"
"I do know what I'm doing! My age has nothing to do with it!"
"You're too young to just leave and go out and on your own! How are you going to manage being out there?"
"I've had enough life experience to know what to expect! I've been in dangerous situation after dangerous situation! Cardek and I can handle ourselves!"
"This is completely different from all you've been through! You can't take care of these twins! Where will you go?"
"Like Cardek said, he has friends all over the place! We'll find somewhere to go! I know more about taking care of babies than you think I know! And I'm not doing this alone!"
"Think about what you're doing! You'r leaving the Order, the Jedi! You're leaving me and everyone else behind! You're giving up everything you have!"
"I'm not going to stay at the temple and be miserable for the rest of my life knowing I won't have my children with me! They need me more than anyone!"
"The babies will be sent to people who will take care of them and make sure they have good lives! Why can't you accept that?"
"Because those people can't give them something I can: a mother's love! I love my children and I don't want to let them go! Why can't you accept that?"
"Because...because I can't lose you! You have no idea what's going to happen out there, and if you leave the Order, then I can't help you in any way possible! I can't lose you!"
"You're worried you're going to lose me?"
"If you go out on your own, and you are in deep trouble, I won't be able to help you, Rex won't help you, the clones won't help you, the Council won't help you, no one will be able to help you! You'll be by yourself, and the galaxy is a cruel and dangerous place! I know that from experience! I'm afraid it'll be too much for you!"
"Master, I won't be alone. Cardek will be with me. You don't have to worry about me. You know what I'm capable of."
"I know what you're capable of, but like I said, I also know what the galaxy can be capable of! It can cruel, uncaring, and won't hesitate to break you! Even with Cardek by your side, it could destroy you all!"
"You always underestimate me, Master! I know how cruel, uncaring and cold the galaxy can be! You're not the only one that's been through it! I've been through my share of the galaxy's cruelty! My past wasn't as happy and great as you think it was!"
"Oh really? I grew up a freakin' slave! I lost my mother to Tusken Raiders! What makes your past not better than mine?"
"I never had my parents in my life! I was practically raising myself at the age of three in a village where no one gave a damn about me! I had to steal and lie and cheat just to get by every day! You still think you're past was worse than mine?" He was shocked.
"Ahsoka...I...I didn't know."
"You never took the time to ask me about it. You see me now and you think I had a perfect childhood. Well I didn't! I don't want my children going through what I went through as a child."
"What makes you think you can provide better for them than another family?"
"I don't, but I want to raise them myself. Make mistakes so I can learn from them. I don't want to give away my children and worry about if they're okay and being treated right. They're my children and I want to be the one to take care of them."
"...I'm not going to change you or Cardek's mind, am I?"
"No. Cardek and I are willing to do whatever it takes to stay with the twins." He sighed as his shoulders dropped.
"Alright. I give. You two can leave with the twins."
"You're really going to let us go?"
"What else can I do? Nothing I say will convince, I can't bring myself to fight your or Cardek, and there's no way I can take those twins by force." She got up and hugged him.
"Thank you, Master." He hugged her back.
"You're welcome Snips. I just hope you know what you're doing. Once you leave the Order, there's little chance they'll take you back."
"I don't care. As long as I'm with my children, it doesn't matter to me."
"Alright." He pulled away and gave her a sad smile. "Be careful out there, Snips."
"Don't worry." She smirked. "I'll try not to get in too much trouble." He smirked back.
"You better not. Now get your stuff ready and get out of here. I'll make sure the clones don't stop you or follow you."
"Alright. And you know to make sure we don't get found, I can't tell you where we're going."
"Yeah, I know. Just make sure to let me know in some way that you're alright in the future. I'm going to be in trouble as it is with the Council for letting you go like this."
"Don't worry. We'll let you know. And I'll send you pictures of the twins over the years."
"Thanks, I would like that. I'm going to miss you, Ahsoka."
"I'll miss you too, Master. Just know that no matter how far apart we are, I'll always be with you."
"Of course, Ahsoka. I always will. And I'll always be with you." He was silent for a few moments. "Goodbye, Ahsoka. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you too, Master."