Both of them were on edge until they landed, and even then, their anxiety didn't end much until Rex was fully cleared for duty again. He didn't talk about it again but he could tell she wasn't her usual self, she was pushing herself harder during drills, but the intensity wasn't making way to marked improvement. Ahsoka was rarely bested by any of the clones, even the ARCs but Jesse, throwing her flat on her ass for the 3rd time that morning had him concerned, she was off, finally, Rex was yanking her out of the sparring ring and away from the others.

"What?" she asked finally when they were out of view.

"Stop it,"

"Stop what?" she asked crossing her arms.

"You're blaming yourself for me getting my ass blown up,"

"I am n-" she started, squaring up to have this argument
"The shit you aren't 'Soka," he put his hands on either side of her shoulders "I know you are, I know what you're doing, I've done the exact same thing, more times than I want to count." he insisted and she deflated looking down.

"Look at me," he ordered and she did, eyes unsure, "You saved my life, don't forget that." he kissed her gently "You couldn't have done anything more, there wasn't a damn thing you could have done to have prevented it, no you shouldn't have gotten blasted either, no you shouldn't have been faster, or stronger. You did everything and a half correctly, and then some."

"How'd you know…" she finally spoke

"Jesse hasn't been able to knock you flat since your tube top days." he noted, "You're fighting harder but you're compensating with brute force, not a strategy."

They cooled down, and Ahsoka did feel better after that, there was a marked improvement in her overall deminure.

Ahsoka got called to a meeting with the council, Obi-wan looked relieved and concerned as soon as she walked in, Anakin wasn't much better.

"We received a transmission from Bo Katan Kryze,"

"Kryze? She's the Duchess' sister?" Ahsoka started with a raised marking.

"Yes, many believe her to be the rightful ruler of Mandalore," Obi-wan started "She wants to meet with you Ahsoka, she's on Couroscant and found out you're leading the takeback."

"Alright so why does everyone not look okay with this? Isn't this a good thing?"

"It could be a trap,"

"Then I'll take some of the boys." she shrugged Anakin couldn't help but chuckle

"See I told you,"

"Ahsoka has always been unafraid of possible dangers," Plo Koon started "She simply doesn't have a 'flight' gene in her body." Ahsoka smiled at him

"I'll be fine, I promise, send me the info and times or whatever I need, we'll get it sorted, I'll take a small group, depending on the meetup it could just look like we're celebrating the last battle." she shrugged, the meeting ended, Obi-wan handing her all the information they had from the transmission, and then some, it was his personal notes from the last time he was on Mandalore,

"We have much to talk about," Ahsoka said and he only nodded. She left, sending a quick message to Rex 'grab a few men meeting up with an informant' she picked them up at the clone barracks, Rex taking over the driving while Ahsoka filled him, Jesse, Ox, and Kano in on what was going on.

"We're trusting her why? She's deathwatch!" Kano started

"Was Death Watch, she was on Obi-wan's side last time remember?"

"Wait wasn't she there when Bonteri kidnapped you?"

"Yes, she slapped me on the ass,"

"This just gets better and better." Ox rolled his eyes.

They landed and Ahsoka jumped out she walked easily down one of the streets, they were in the lower levels of Coruscant, slum levels, lower than where they usually went for drinks, they kept up idle chat, asking about bar recommendations when out from the shadows five forms walked out, all in cloaks. Ahsoka stopped, the boys following,

"I thought said come alone," the first voice, female, spoke

"You may have, but you obviously didn't so why should I?" Ahsoka replied easily. The woman threw off her hood revealing a bucket Ahsoka knew well.

"So you got my message then?" Ahsoka nodded "Good, this way, it'll be safer, bring your boys."

They walked down the street and into a small apartment, which with the 10 of them, was a little crowded. Bo removed her helmet and her nite owls followed, Ahsoka nodded at Rex, and he took off his own, the others following.

"You're leading this take back?" Ahsoka knew it wasn't meant to sound insulting but she raised an eye marking all the same.

"Someone has to, someone not bound by a Jedi code."

"Heard about that, well first things first," she paused "Whose in charge?"

"Afraid to share the leading role?" Ahsoka asked and Bo shook her head

"I'd prefer it actually,"

"Perfect I have one condition,"

"That is?" the ginger-haired woman asked

"If this looks like it's going to hell, and I tell you to get the fuck off-world, run and hide, you do so." Ahsoka's voice was firm. "That's not to be argued with if you refuse I will sedate you and ship you off myself. Mandalore needs to have hope, always, that they will get the leader they need and deserve, which is you, they can't have that hope if you die."

"I don't run."

"You're here aren't you?"

"You talked to Obi-wan…" Bo Katan started and Ahsoka nodded "Fine, I accept your condition, I have one of my own." She looked the other over.

"And that would be?"

"You're fighting with us, for us, for Mandalore, for their people, you're wearing our armor, not whatever plastoid durasteel crap you got on right now." Bo Katan insisted and Ahsoka crossed her arms.

"You're going to have me wear Mandalorian armor?"

"Yes and no, I actually like your current plate design, I just want to change the material." She smiled gently.

"Well alright then, I can accept that." Ahsoka smiled back. They chatted some more went over the finer details, giving each other secured channels to communicate through and then they parted ways again, Ahsoka back to the senator's apartment with Rex, the rest of the clones returning to the barracks.

When they entered Padme's apartment, she had company over, Ahsoka smiled gently at the familiar faces of the Shili senator and his wife

"Oh, Ahsoka, I didn't know if you'd be coming back here tonight." Padme started she was holding a small bundle against her chest and Ahsoka smiled wide.

"Well I see what's got your attention." she sauntered over and Rex stood back, watching. Ahsoka so easily took what Padme was holding, which soon made itself known to be a child, and spoke soft words in Togruti at it.

"Yours I assume?" Rex asked the two other Togruta and the senator nodded

"Yes, we adopted her not too long ago," he paused his arms wrapping around his wife "We've not been able to have a child naturally, so we decided to adopt one from Shili," He smiled gently still watching Ahsoka, Rex smiled

"Well, a family is a family, you'll be amazing parents I'm sure of it, congratulations."

"I couldn't help it, when I heard they were bringing their daughter back from Shili, I begged to see her, it's been a while since I've held a baby, I need the practice." Padme started as she rubbed over her stomach. Ahsoka, on the other hand, was still holding the infant, who currently was using her Lekku as a pacifier, as Ahsoka attempted to unhinge the smallmouth, to no avail.

Rex was having that thought again, Ahsoka with a child, one of her own, one of their own, she looked so natural and he thought back to the youngling class she substituted, thought back to her stories of being around the babies of her tribe, now this, he came to stand behind her looking at the little one in her arms, he wondered so many things, he'd not heard to Togruta hybrids, but he was sure it was possible, Twi'lek ones were so why not?

Rex thought about what theirs would look like, he thought back to the clone with his Step-kids, but their biological father was human.

"Do you wanna hold her?" Ahsoka asked facing him now, Rex nodded blindly, as Ahsoka handed him the bundle and positioned his arms, it was becoming more wanted, a child, Ahsoka was looking at him and his heart swelled, the gentle smile on her features, how at ease she seemed.

"You're a natural." she cooed gently, finally getting her Lekku back from the baby's mouth. She turned to talk to the parents asking idle things, relating to Shili, the trio off in their own conversation in Togruti

"Makes you think doesn't it?" Padme whispered she was in front of him now.

"What do you mean?" Rex asked tearing his eyes away from the now sleeping little one.

"What you two will do after the war is over." She smiled at him. "You'd make amazing parents, plus I'd be lying if I said I didn't want my own to have a friend." she winked

"I don't know if that's possible for us,"

"I saw the way you were looking at her Rex," Padme spoke gently "It was hope, hope one day this could be your reality."

"Got a lot of fights left first," he said and soon, the parents were back, wishing them all a good evening, saying that they themselves should get to their home, all to get some rest. The mother collecting her child, Rex wouldn't admit to missing the weight in his arms.
"She's beautiful," he commented softly to which he was thanked, and the family left.

"Well then, how was your evening? Padme asked as she looked at the two.

"Just finalizing some new allies for Mandalore."

"Anakin told me about that, you both look well so it wasn't a trap." Padme noted, and from her office, a chime came "If you'll excuse me."

"We may as well turn in, that's Bail's call they'll be in a meeting for a good few hours."

Ahsoka walked into her room, Rex coming up behind her, one arm across her stomach the other across her shoulders.

"For what it's worth, you'd make an amazing mother."

"Funny I was going to say you'd make an amazing father," she replied her hands giving a gentle squeeze on his forearm

"But if I can make one request about us becoming parents…" she started and felt him nod "I'd rather adopt, there are going to be so many children who lost their parents, they'll need families…"

"That sounds like a perfect idea" he nuzzled against her lekku "I couldn't agree more." They stood like that watching the city before them until Ahsoka let out a tired yawn. They fell asleep easily, Rex keeping her close against his chest, using her breathing to lull him into his own sleep.

The clone didn't often dream, not really having the time, or the ability to get that deep into sleep, so when he did, he remembered them.

They were on Naboo, Ahsoka sitting down in the grass pouring over a text, Padme nearby reading something much the same, a small group of children playing in the idle weather. As he approached, there was an infant happily asleep in Ahsoka's lap, an empty bottle nearby, small lekku sprouting from its skull giving away the identity of a Twi'lek child. She looked up, and his mind took notice of her older features looking as though she had another heat cycle.

"Hey, you're back," Padme looked up too, and past him, seeing Anakin walking towards them. He nodded sitting beside her, cheers of 'dad's and 'daddy' echoing in his ears, the small group of children running toward them, three towards Anakin, 3 towards him. He shushed them so they didn't wake their sleeping sibling.

Soon they were content to go back to their hiding game among the gardens.

"How long are you staying?" It was Padme asking Anakin but Ahsoka looked at him expecting an answer

"Rebuilding is basically over unless there's a civil dispute I'm free to stay here," Rex answered

"I'll be here to ensure the 501st gets settled into their housing, a few other groups are coming, the council asked if I'd oversee it, they also asked if Ahsoka would be willing to help at all?"

"Of course, anything they need." She smiled leaning against the clone. They watched the sun fall lower into the horizon. Rex kissing her gently

"Ew, cooties," their oldest, a boy, answered and Ahsoka rolled her eyes

"See that is why the girl you liked threw mud at you." Ahsoka easily shot back and rex laughed

"Wait you didn't tell me about this,"

"He asked one of his classmates to their dance, she said 'I thought I had cooties' apparently the comment 'but I want your cooties' didn't go over well." Rex laughed, the infant stirring as he tried to stifle it,

"You'll learn kid."

"Easy for you to say!" The child shot back stomping off.

"Eh leave him, he'll get over it," Ahsoka said but sighed as Rex stood to go after the child anyway.

The dream faded away into nothing. Rex woke up seeing Ahsoka's features in the dim lights, he nuzzled against her breathing in her scent and let out a content sigh.

"It's perfect." He whispered gently against her montral.

They only had a day before they shipped out to the next place, the next battle, the next step to trying to end a war.

Rex woke up in the middle of the night, Ahsoka wasn't there, which was strange, he got up went to check to see if he could find her. He did, eventually, in the gym, she was sitting in the middle of the mats, meditating.

"Can't sleep?" He asked sitting in front of her.

"Weird dream, really hazy, trying to get a clearer image."

"What happened?" He asked and she kept her eyes closed

"A figure, dark, strong with the sith,"

"Maul?"

"No, this one was new, tall, in all black, helmet, strange breathing sounds, like there was something else breathing for it…" she opened her eyes

"The last time you had a vision it was true," he recalled

"Yes, you're not wrong in that, but I'm not sure… I was hoping if I mediated, more would come to me," she looked at him "when I woke up, all I remember feeling is fear, fear and cold…" she shrugged

"If it happens again, tell me," he said taking one of her hands in his own. She nodded and they got up, trying to get a bit more rest.

Ahsoka didn't have the time to even attempt to dream again until they were coming back, the battle had gone on three times longer than they thought, their numbers were inaccurate, they weren't fully prepared Anakin injured his robotic arm in the battle and the result cause a bit of nerve damage in the rest of his arm which had him getting checked over in the med bay. Ahsoka had a gash on her arm, rex a few on his legs. There were few men who didn't have some kind of injury and as such, Ahsoka was helping where she could. She hadn't showered, still covered in grime from the battle. She could bandage, apply bacta, splint injured bones.

"This whole battle went to hell," Anakin commented, his bad arm had a nerve pack on it, his good one handling her another roll of bandage.

"This feel like a trap to anyone else?" She looked around, the number of body bags stacking up made her sick. "Cause this sure as hell felt like a trap to me."

"I know what you mean when we get back we'll have to tell the Chancellor,"

"What do you mean we?"

"Two generals and an entire legion got their asses kicked hand over fist on Intel that was useless, we would have been better going in blind."

They tended to the injured, took care of the dead. Counted their numbers,

"I put in the trooper request, Ahsoka I want you to go with, a lot of this batch signed up for Mandalore, pending Rex's approval of course."

"I've never been on a resupply before,"

"It's quick and easy, plus it'll give the rest of the men time to recover," Anakin tried his arm "a little extra time couldn't hurt me either."

When they landed they went straight to the chancellor's office, Rex staying to get the ship prepped with Kix and Jesse.

"Rex put in his replacement request," Anakin said as they traveled, "he thinks Appo would be a good fit."

"He'll run them differently which will take some getting used to, but otherwise he'll do just fine, I trust his judgment, might even force him to loosen up a little."

They entered the offices and relayed their findings.

"That is most troubling, the Intel came from one of my own informants, I'll have to double check with them it seems." Anakin seemed content with the answer while Ahsoka wasn't as easily swayed.

"With all due respect then, when it comes to my take back of Mandalore, I'll be choosing my own informants."

"Ahsoka-" Anakin scolded

"No, not this time, if this happens on Mandalore, it's done. It's over, my entire battalion will die, my men will die, the planet will never be freed from Maul and deathwatch, and a ruler would have laid her life down for nothing!" She exclaimed looking at them.

"Most officers would be court marshaled for that outburst," a voice spoke up and Ahsoka rounded

"I'm not most officers." She replied crossing her arms

"Ah, Admiral Tarkin, it's good to see you again." The chancellor greeted "I actually always find Ahsoka's views needed and refreshing, so much so that I'll be doing an internal investigation to check the accuracy of this informant, and others, to make sure this has been a one time incident, if you'll excuse us," he said leading Tarkin into his office. Ahsoka and Anakin bowed before leaving

"Tarkin had a point," Ahsoka rolled her eyes

"You know how I feel about Tarkin and his points." she shot back, they left, she packed a bag for the journey to Kamino before getting onto the transport ship with Kix, Rex, and Jesse.

The journey there was pretty relaxed, Ahsoka relishing in the overall quiet of the ship, of course, Jesse made up for a whole battalion of noise.

"You really need to find a girl," Ahsoka commented looking up over her datapad.

"Excuse me?" he looked at her and she looked up for a moment.

"Or I guy, I don't judge…" she smirked and turned her attention back to her reading.

"What makes you say that?"

"You'd be quieter."

"Are you saying, General Tano, that I'd be a better clone,"

"Not better just less" she moved her hand back and forth a few times "Echo-ey, you're seriously making my montrals ring."

"How would a girl help that?" Kix asked

"Cause he'd been on a video call trying his best to pretend he's not, and thus we wouldn't hear him."

"She's actually not wrong…" Rex offered not turning his attention away from his own datapad.

"Just remember General, soon you'll be in a ship full of pent up shinies who've never been off Kamino and their only exposure to females include the long necks, holovids, and Master Ti," Jesse said looking at her and she smiled deviously,

"I can handle some shinies."

"I'm not sure about that,"

"Then I say we spend the journey back sparring." she winked and Rex rolled his eyes, she knew that wouldn't help at all, but she also knew it made him more possessive, which Ahsoka enjoyed, maybe a little too much.

They landed on Kamino, her cloak pulled up high over her head to stop the rain as they entered the building.

"Knight Tano," Nala Se was the first to greet her, behind her other cloners, the bounty hunters set to train them, and Master Ti stood tall. "Allow me to be the first to welcome you to Kamino,"

"Thank you," Ahsoka bowed back

"Your new Clones are ready, your Chief Medical Officer just needs to verify their paperwork." for some reason the phrase sat wrong with Ahsoka.

"Sounds like a plan," she replied smoothly

"Master Ti will be able to take you to your quarters and show you around if you'll excuse me." the woman left, the bounty hunters dissolving after giving her a nod.

"Ahsoka, it's good to see you," Shaak Ti greeted the other happily

"You as well," they walked through the base to one of the office spaces to begin the 'verification of paperwork' the phrase in her head bitterly. It was pretty boring and tedious, general stat check, making sure what the cloners had matched what Kix had.

"Verification of Paperwork," she finally verbally spat out the phrase and the other clones looked at her, Master Ti having to oversee some training, left a while ago.

"'Soka," Rex started reaching a hand across space between them. "It's alright, it's routine."

"You're not some pet being adopted from a shelter, nor are you a product to be verified on a shipping manifest and that is exactly what this reads as…"

"I know," he tried to calm her gently "It's not ideal but it's more for efficiency than anything malicious."

"This form and method are from the same people putting chips in all of their heads that could have them turn murderer without remembering it, so I'm sorry for not liking it." she looked at him, "This whole thing reads off like one of those douchey Senator's pet pedigrees."

"She's got a point…" Jesse chimed in and Rex shot him a look.

"I know," he pressed a gentle kiss against her montral. "It'll be over soon," he promised

Soon wasn't soon enough, but their ship was full and they were heading back. Ahsoka content to stay around the new clones, got to know them a bit better.

As predicted they were definitely a bit pent up, sparring helped with the excitement and energy it did not help the comments here and there about their female general.

It also did not help the newly submitted ship art for Mandalore that came into Rex's inbox he groaned which caused Ahsoka to look up from where she was sitting across from him in the shared officer quarters.

"These ones may be the death of me." he sighed and she only rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure they'll be fine," he showed her some of the art "See I kinda like it, we'll need something for the gunships…" she offered.

They landed, the new troopers inducted, and Ahsoka met with Bo Katan again, as the men were getting settled they were working out details. Anakin eager to help, working out the details to get Ahsoka a flagship for her battalion, a full line of gunships, and fighters for a few squads. Rex was finalizing his list, and they agreed to let them paint their armor before leaving, as they knew, many of them wouldn't survive this. It wouldn't be long now until they left for the war torn planet.