"How'd you find me?" Ahsoka said still a bit taken aback by her former master standing in her doorway. She hadn't seen him for almost a year, not since the day she left the the temple.

"Well..." Anakin knew she wouldn't be happy with the truth but he couldn't lie to her. "I've, um, kept tabs on you since you left; I wanted to make sure you were safe." Her face almost saddened by his words.

"You didn't trust me to make it on my own so you had to spy me?" Ahsoka turned away as she spoke.

"Of course I trust you!" He was hurt for a second time that night, Anakin started to regret his decision to come here in the first place. "I'm sorry, Ahsoka. I know you wanted to move on from the Jedi... to be honest I kept an eye on you for my own sanity. I couldn't bear not knowing if you were alright; I got so used to having you in my life that I lost a piece of myself when you left."

"I shouldn't have come, I'm sorry; I promise I'll leave you alone, you don't have to worry."

As Anakin turned to leave he heard her faint words, "Wait."

"You don't have to be sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you, part of me wishes every day that I stayed in the order... stayed with you." She turned back to face him as she spoke, Anakin saw the tears in her eyes when she looked up at him.

"But," Ahsoka continued wiping her face with her hand, "I have built a semblance of a normal life here, I have a job, a home, I'm finally free."

"Are you happy?" His words surprised her; Ahsoka wasn't sure how to answer.

Yes she had a job that she sometimes enjoyed a roof over her head but life down here was so different. Her work didn't always pay well; she had to take odd jobs just to get by. The complex where she lived was really run down and a normal person may not feel entirely safe, but she could hold her own when it came to protecting herself.

With these thoughts going through her head she almost forgot to answer his question even if she didn't have an answer.

"I think so, yes." She didn't want Anakin to worry. Ahsoka would only ever be truly happy if she could erase the betrayal she experienced from the Jedi Order... her family.

"That's good to hear at least," he said with a half-smile, "do you mind if I come in?"

Ahsoka realized they were still in her doorway and hall, their conversation privy to the rest of the building. "Of course," she said returning his smile, "I know this place isn't as nice the temple but make yourself at home."

Anakin finally had a moment to take in the apartment, it was small and a little run down. The entire space was a single room with a kitchenette in the corner next to the door, a small bed in the far side of the room, and a desk with tools and a few spare machine parts Ahsoka must be working on.

The room had a very few personal touches, similar to her room in the temple, Anakin thought to himself. Jedi are to taught to surrender all worldly possessions, he assumed she may still be subconsciously following this rule or may not have much money to get anything besides necessities.

Anakin settled into the chair by her desk, leaving Ahsoka to sit on her bed facing him.

"So what bring you by? Is everything okay?" She realized that if he finally came by after all this time something bad must have happened.

Anakin looked down to the floor, not knowing where to begin except for being honest.

"I, uh, guess I just needed someone to talk to..." he said with a sigh.

"What happened? I'll see if I can help." She responded with a smile as he met her glaze.

"Well before I start there's something I need to tell you, a something I've been keeping from everyone." Anakin took a breath before telling Ahsoka about his double life.

-•-•-•-•-

"There's something you should know about Padmé, she's my wife." He said quickly looking for a reaction from his former Padawan. He thought she may have known after all these years; at least that's what he thought after their last talk outside the temple.

Ahsoka sat quietly processing the information, not sure exactly what to say.

"You don't seem surprised." Anakin say pulling her from her thoughts.

"I always knew there was something between you too, but I didn't know you were married..." Ahsoka admitted.

"Is that what you came here to tell me?" She said trying to get the whole story.

"No," Anakin sighed, once again thinking of where to begin.

-•-•-•-•-

Anakin started the story with how he first met Clovis, how Padmé almost died and that he thought Clovis was no longer a problem until Padmé went to Scipio. He then told Ahsoka about walking in on Padmé almost kissing that monster and how Anakin proceed to beat the crap out of him. Finally he ended with the conversation he had with Padmé and how his Marriage could be over.

Ahsoka remained quiet throughout the entire story. At the end she could hear how heartbroken he really sounded, it reminded her of the last time she saw him, how he pleaded for her to return.

They both sat there, no words were spoken for what seemed like forever.

Finally Ahsoka looked into her former masters eyes and said, "I wish I could offer advice that could fix this but I think what Padmé needs is space. It sounds like this Clovis may never truly change and no one, not even you can convince Padmé of that, she will need to find that out on her own."

"And what if she gets hurt again and I'm not there to protect her?" Anakin stood in a short burst of anger.

"I think Padmé can take care of herself, if there's anything I've learned it's that you won't be able to dissuade her once she's set her mind to something."

Anakin slowly sat back down and placed his head in his hands. "I know I went too far, but do you think she'll forgive me?"

"You two have been through everything together; I don't think something like this will keep you apart. She was angry, probably didn't mean to say those things." Ahsoka knew that her words may not help, especially since she really didn't know if this would be the straw to break the camel's back. However she wanted to comfort Anakin as best she could.

"What if she did?" Anakin sounded lost, the pain in his voice was prominent. "She was right; our marriage was built on lies and deception. We've hid for so long...this will never be a normal relationship."

Anakin realized that there may not be a way to savage his dying marriage.