"Ahsoka, I am so sorry. About everything."

Anakin's voice broke through Ahsoka's conflicted thoughts. She turned to him and gave a slight nod, almost smiling but not.

"You have our most humble apologies, Little 'Soka," Master Plo said, his normally confident voice filled with sadness and regret and shame. "The Council was wrong to accuse you."

"You have shown such great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence." Master Tiin.

"This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight." Master Mundi.

"This was actually your great trial. Now we see that. We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways, and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise." Master Windu.

Ahsoka crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, raising her right eye marking. Was that supposed to be his attempt at an apology? Because it was kriffing weak.

All these Masters were trying to admit their mistake without actually doing so. None even had the guts to really apologize. If she still had a lightsaber, she would have been severely tempted to use it.

"Back into the Order, you may come," came Master Yoda's voice. He smiled up at her.

"They're asking you back, Ahsoka," Anakin said, stepping forward and reaching into a pocket. "I'm asking you back." He held out her Padawan braid.

Ahsoka looked at the beads. Anakin moved his hand toward her, silently pleading for her to take them.

Ahsoka turned her eyes back up to Anakin. He smiled gently at her.

Hope was written on his face, as it had been on Ahsoka's when Anakin had accepted her all those years ago on Christophsis.

Ahsoka looked back down to the beads. Slowly, hesitantly, she lifted her left hand, reached for the beads.

How could she continue to live in an Order where nobody trusted her? Not even Master Kenobi or Master Plo—no, Master Koon—had believed in her. And Ahsoka's supposed friend, Barriss, had been the one to start this whole mess.

As much as Ahsoka hated to think it, Barriss had had a point…

She hated to do this to Anakin.

She took hold of his palm with her right hand. Gently, she closed his mechanical fingers over the braid with her left.

Ahsoka looked up at Anakin, tears welling in her eyes. There was no going back now.

"I'm sorry, Master," she choked out. "But I'm not coming back." She turned her head away, unable to bring herself to look at Anakin's heartbroken face.

Staring at the floor, she left the Council chambers for the last time.

Ahsoka walked slowly out of the Temple. She didn't need the Force to know that Anakin was running after her.

"Ahsoka, wait!" he called.

She shook her head and closed her eyes, trying to keep tears from falling. This would only make it hurt more.

"Ahsoka, I need to talk to you!"

Ahsoka stopped just outside the exit and took a deep breath. Releasing it, she turned around.

Anakin caught up to her, bending over to catch his breath. "Why… are you doing this?" he panted.

"The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?" she said bitterly, crossing her arms over herself.

"What about me?" he asked, gesturing to himself. "I believed in you. I stood by you!"

"I know you believe in me, Anakin, and I'm grateful for that," she said, looking up at him. "But this isn't about you. I can't stay here any longer. Not now." She turned away from him, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes.

"The Jedi Order is your life."

Her eyes widened the slightest bit. He was right. How would she survive in the real world? She had to worry about food, and water, and she had no lightsabers to aggressively negotiate with when things got rough. She was truly helpless.

"You can't just throw it away like this!" Anakin went on. "Ahsoka, you are making a mistake."

Ahsoka closed her eyes. No, she realized, this was no mistake. She would rather be alone than surrounded by those who didn't trust her.

But her only true friend was here, begging her to stay, hoping that they could eventually make things right.

I would never let anyone hurt you, Ahsoka. Never.

If only that had been true…

Ahsoka knew that no matter the cost, Anakin would protect her.

But what could he do against a literal army of Jedi?

"Maybe," she conceded, facing him. "But I have to sort this out on my own. Without the Council…"

She had to turn away again. She couldn't bring herself to say it to his face.

"…and without you."

There was a painful silence.

Anakin had once pranked Ahsoka with the classic bucket of cold water over a doorway. When the bucket had dumped over her, her first impression had been cold. Her clothes, soaked through, stuck to her body and only made her feel colder. She had curled into a ball on the floor, hugging herself in an attempt to make the coldness go away.

That was how the Force felt right now. Cold and heavy with remorse, making Ahsoka long for hugs and blankets and warm drinks.

Anakin sighed. "I understand. More than you realize, I understand wanting to walk away from the Order."

Ahsoka knew he understood. But she also knew that, as he had said of her, the Jedi Order was his life. He couldn't just throw it away.

And Ahsoka understood that.

"I know," she said softly.

Turning all the way around, she ran forward and threw her arms around Anakin, finally letting her tears fall.

"I'll miss you so much," she managed to say between sobs.

Anakin didn't say anything. But he returned the hug, and although his grip was firm, Ahsoka could feel his body shaking. Of course, he didn't full-on cry. She doubted she would ever see him do that.

They stayed like that for a minute, holding each other as if for the last time.

Finally, Ahsoka pulled away. "Well… see you around, I guess?" she sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Anakin nodded, his own eyes shining with tears. "Of course. And don't forget to visit."

She smiled. "Right. I know where Padmé lives."

Maybe it was just the sunset, but Anakin's face seemed to turn red.

Ahsoka allowed a single, small laugh to escape her lips. "May the Force be with you… Skyguy," she said.

"And with you, Snips," Anakin replied.

Ahsoka waved, turned, and made her way down the stairs, a contented smile on her face.

She was no Jedi. She had no military rank, no special privileges, no lightsabers.

But Jedi or not, she had friendship.

And nothing could ever take that away from her.

A/N: I am pretty proud of myself for a couple of reasons:

1. I wrote the canon dialogue from memory, only mixing up Anakin's calls of "Ahsoka!" and "Ahsoka, wait!"

2. I wrote this in one day

3. I have been known to have a tendency to be overly proud of myself XD

Enough of that. I hope you enjoyed the story! Let me know what you thought, and I think I'll be posting a bonus alternate ending chapter soon!

Also, tell me if you know what the title of the story is from! Hint: Chosen One

-JP421

UPDATE: I just reread this chapter (the same day, 4/10/2020) and improved it (I think).