A/N: My last few chapters have been so…'meh'. Going back and reading how much suspense and emotion there was in 'Children of the Revolution' def. makes me really critical of this fic. I've just hit a road-block. I have interesting things planned, but I have no idea how to get there. Many people assume that writing is easy and the ideas just flow out of your brain non-stop, but that's just not how it is. I'm glad that I still do have loyal readers that put up with my crap and I'm going to really work on writing more quality chapters. Thanks to Queen Naberrie and kimm for reviewing. And kimm, thanks for liking my portrayal of Ani. I definitely try to make him much sweeter, because even the way George Lucas had him portrayed in Episode I and the first half of Ep II was really sweet and innocent and I really liked that. I love writing him like that. Anywayyyyzz, enough Anakin fan-girling lmfao. Time to update!

Chapter Twenty-One

Hopes and Fears

Ahsoka's hands were clenched in fists by her sides. She was much smaller than Obi-Wan, but her presence in the force rivaled his.

Her giant blue orbs burned with resentment.

"I don't want to stay here! I want to fight with you!"

"There are more than enough clone troopers to fight alongside me."

"What, I'm not good enough?"

Ahsoka sounded startlingly like a younger Anakin at that point. Indignant and easily frustrated. It almost made Obi-Wan want to laugh. And it made him sad at the same time.

He missed his old Padawan. The boy's jokes and playfulness. His energy and optimism.

Obi-Wan smiled at Ahsoka. "You are a great warrior, young one. But I'm worried about Siri. I'd like if someone made sure she was safe. Someone I could trust."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine."

"I'm giving you a break, Padawan. You can do as you like. I know there are some holo-shows you've been eager to catch up on."

"Go ahead, Master. Go for the Glory while I sit here on the side lines."

"You'll get more than your fair share of battle later. For now, it would be good to rest."

It was early morning on Coruscant. The sun had just barely risen above the skyscraper lined horizon. The city was a deep and violent orange. 500 Republica's veranda was still lit, its automatic sensors hadn't yet recognized the change from night to day.

Anakin was alone, watching the city come alive slowly. There were dark circles under his eyes from a sleepless night.

Obi-Wan appeared in a hologram in his palm.

"You contacted me, Anakin."

He smiled faintly. "Hello, Master."

"I meant to call you, but it's been chaotic here."

"I thought as much."

"Siri was injured. The civilians ambushed us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Obi-Wan."

"Oh, she's fine. Just a blaster wound on her shoulder. Nothing serious."

"But enough to scare you."

"Yes." Obi-Wan agreed.

"I think I'm going to have to start worrying about that soon. Padmé…wants to be trained in the ways of Jedi."

Obi-Wan looked surprised, his eyebrows raised. "Well…" He laughed. "I don't know how to react to that."

"Neither did I."

There was a silence.

"Something is troubling you, Anakin."

"I didn't want to burden you."

"You're not a burden, Anakin. I am glad to hear your voice. I hate to admit…that I've missed you."

Anakin smiled. "I've missed you as well."

"What did you want to tell me?"

Anakin was quiet for a few moments.

"I had a dream. About you, Siri, and Ahsoka."

"You had a nightmare." It wasn't a question, but rather a statement.

"What's new?" He joked sarcastically.

"What happened?"

"I was on Tatooine and I found you. You had lost the battle with the slavers. You all…died."

Obi-Wan looked pained for a brief moment.

"If that is the will of the Force."

"You don't agree with that, Obi-Wan."

"But I can't stop things from happening. I have no say in what the future brings."

"Of course you do."

"And what do you propose I do?"

"Come back. Leave Tatooine."

"Anakin…I'm needed here. I thought this cause was important to you."

"It is. But not more important than you."

Obi-Wan was touched by the confession, but he didn't let it show.

"All these years you've known that I could die in battle. It's never bothered you. Anakin, this is why the code forbids attachment. Jedi are often put in dangerous situations. They fall in battle. If we as Jedi were to mourn ever comrade lost in war, we could never do our jobs."

"You and Siri have a future planned."

"You're acting like your dream is a certainty. You know, sometimes by trying to avoid your fate, you bring it forth. A self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts."

"I hope you're right."

"I'm always right, young one."

Anakin laughed. "Sure you are." He replied with sarcasm.

"If you were still my Padawan, I would make you meditate an entire day for that."

"That's not really a punishment."

"For someone as easily bored as you, it is."

Anakin smiled. It faded off his face quickly, though as the worry settled back into his features.

"Don't let it bother you, Anakin. Everything will happen as it should."

Anakin nodded. "May the force be with you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan smiled, his blue-green eyes seemed to glow a bit brighter and he looked less weary and tired.

"May the force be with you, Anakin."

Padmé hummed a mellow song as she walked towards young Jacen's bedroom. She knocked, but there was no answer. She pressed the entry button and it slid open. The room was washed in golden light and everything was neat. Too neat. He wasn't in his bed. She felt the slightest panic set in.

She walked out and went to the veranda. Jacen often liked to sit by the fountain.

But he wasn't there.

She saw instead Anakin, his face to the sun. The wind ruffled his sandy blond curls.

"Ani."

His eyes opened slowly and he turned to face her.

"Good morning." He said softly.

"Have you seen Jacen?" She asked.

"No. I think I was the first one up."

"He's not in his room."

"Maybe he's having an early breakfast. Check the kitchen."

Padmé walked hastily towards the kitchen, her pale lavender silken nightgown sweeping over the apartment's marble floors.

"Jacen?" She called.

He wasn't in the kitchen either. She felt her breath catch and her heart started to race.

"Jacen!"

She scurried to the babies' room. They were sound asleep in their cribs, but there was no sign of Jacen.

She went back to the veranda and looked at Anakin, distraught.

"He's not here."

Anakin furrowed his brows faintly.

"You don't think he's run away?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. He's just been so unhappy."

Her features twisted into a frown. "Anakin…"

"I would help if I could, but I still can't do anything more than slow walking."

"I'm going to go look for him."

"It's way too early to be out. Eat something first."

"But he could be in trouble."

"He couldn't have gotten too far. Take care of yourself first."

She sighed in frustration.

"I guess you're right. Let's go and have breakfast." She said glumly.

Padmé put a non-descript gray cloak on and started out. The turbolift took forever to reach ground level. She rushed out of the building and looked around.

Jacen was sitting just a few meters away, his knees drawn up to his chest, his chin resting on his knees. His eyes were downcast.

Padmé stopped herself from cursing at the boy. She walked over to him.

"Jacen!"

He looked up at her quietly.

"We were worried sick about you! We thought something happened to you."

"I'm sorry, Padmé."

She sighed and smiled, sitting down on the duracrete beside him.

"You know you're going to have to get used to calling me mom. Because that's what I'm going to be. Your mom."

He smirked. "You're not even old enough to be my mom."

"Let's ignore my age. Anakin and I have told you on numerous occasions that we'd like to adopt you as our son."

He looked out into the city. "You don't even know me."

"Then let us get to know you, Jacen."

"There's nothing to find out. Nothing but pain and loneliness. I don't think you want to hear about any of that."

"Anakin has given me a fair amount of that." She joked with levity. "I think I can handle it."

She was silent. "One of the most important things in Anakin's life is to be able to help people. Let him help you."

The boy looked at her wordlessly for a moment. "I just don't belong here."

"It's easy to feel that way on Coruscant. It's quite a change for you. Going from rural Tatooine to this. I didn't grow up here and it was an adjustment for me too. But you'll get used to it. Besides we can always go to Naboo. Anakin loves Naboo. And seeing as you're from Tatooine like him, I think you'll like it too. It's very green, rolling hills and mountains. Lakes and waterfalls. We can go there if you like."

Jacen still looked sad, his eyes empty. But he smiled very slightly.

"Okay."

Padmé ran her fingers through his moppy brown hair.

"I love you, Jacen. Anakin loves you too. Let that affection into your heart. We want to help you."

He looked at her. Padmé's face was warm, her smile sweet and loving.

It was something that Jacen didn't know if he'd ever get used to. Something he wanted to get used to. Getting used to things was stupid, because you lost things. Nothing good lasted forever.

But even so, he couldn't shut away the feeling her smile created. He found himself smiling back at her.

Padmé smiled even wider, her eyes like little crescent moons.

"Come on. Let's go home."