Disclaimer: All rights reserved by Lucas Arts and Disney this is a non profit fanfiction. A/N Thank you everyone for the loving support so far I hope you enjoy the story as it continues to unfold.
Chapter Two: Homecoming.
The Resolute: Hanger Bay.
Anakin brought the twilight into the hanger bay of his republic cruiser touching down gently. Aalya stood over his shoulder smiling at how easily piloting came to her boyfriend and kissed him gently on the cheek causing the young knight to blush. Anakin leaned back as he felt Aalya's hand on his shoulder "Can you go wake the others I will let Admiral Yularen know where we are going?" Anakin asked. Aalya smiled kissing Anakin again this time bringing her lips to his as she wrapped her arms around him after he stood up from his pilot chair, breaking the kiss she simply smirked. "Alright Anakin that should be no trouble and besides I will need to work out quarters for our group anyway maybe find us a room." Aalya said in a flirty tone before she walked off her presence in their bond beamed with warm feelings to her lover as she swayed her hips as she moved out of the room.
Anakin sighed content in his new situation and left the ship making his way down the loading ramp only to be greeted by a clone he knew well. Captain Rex saluted as he saw his General approach knowing other clones were near. Anakin had told Rex he did not need to salute him but the clone insisted that he should to remind the men to show respect and be a good example for them, so Anakin even though he felt no more special then his men allowed the Captain to do so. Anakin stood before Rex returning the salute "At ease Rex." Anakin said in a cheerful tone that even surprised Rex. Rex smiled under his helmet "Alright General I have to ask what has you in such a good mood?" Rex asked. folding his arms across his chest.
Anakin smiled "Well I got promoted to Jedi Knight, I have a Padawan and most importantly I have found love after so long of searching for it." Anakin said in an upbeat tone. Rex smiled knowing about this, since the battle of Geonosis he had served under Anakin and he had become close to his General he even knew how bad Anakin had been hurt when Senator Amidala turned her back on him a pain he never thought would heal until now. Rex however was worried putting a hand on Anakin's shoulder "General I thought Jedi couldn't do that though will you be in trouble for this?" Rex asked. Anakin smiled "I sort of got in trouble, the council kicked me and my girlfriend off temple grounds while it is not technically a punishment since I got my knighthood before they did it we cannot live in the Jedi Temple anymore because we are being given special conditions given the relationship lets say we are a trial run for an idea the council has but we are still technically breaking the council's rules even with permission." Anakin said.
Rex smirked before asking the big question. "Alright General I have to know who did it who managed to get you over that crush on Padme and get you to move on?" Rex asked. Anakin smiled in reply before speaking. "Aalya Secura did and I am glad to be with her!" Anakin said in an enthusiastic voice. Rex chuckled having already guessed knowing the history between the two Jedi Generals "Well I think you two are going to make a fine couple and if I can do anything for you guys let me know sir." Rex said. Anakin's smile widened. "Actually Rex can you and the men help Aalya and our other Jedi find quarters Aalya will not be hard she wants to stay with me but I need help setting up rooms for the others?" Anakin asked. Rex nodded "Sure me and some troopers will help them get settled in." Anakin remained silent for a moment before speaking "Thank you Rex I need to have a word with Admiral Yularen otherwise I would handle it." Anakin said as he gave a salute and left towards the bridge sensing the Admiral's presence there.
The Resolute: The Bridge.
Anakin strolled into the bridge and several clones saluted him. Anakin nodded acknowledging the troopers then walked up beside the man he was looking for Admiral Yularen. Anakin walked up next to the older man "Admiral we are heading to the planet Ryloth we will be setting up a Republic outpost there." Yularen gave Anakin a curious look. Anakin raised a hand "I will explain on the way but our ship will be stationed there from now on." The Admiral nodded and began to give orders to the men and in no time the ship went into lightspeed. Yularen turned back to face his General before he spoke "The Jedi Council called ahead and told me a little of what is going on I understand that we are to build an outpost on Ryloth but they did not mention the others that were coming with you and General Secura."
Anakin sighed and then explained what happened at the temple after he was done the Admiral sighed and then replied "Sometimes General Skywalker I find it hard to understand the Jedi I guess that is one reason I was glad the chancellor assigned me to you and your ship I am a soldier not a senator I don't pretend to understand how the council can think one can just destroy what makes them human but at least we understand one another on that so I am with you all the way even if it means being away from Coruscant for a while." Yularen said. Anakin nodded "Thank you Admiral I should go see how are new additions are doing before we reach Ryloth." Yularen saluted "Very well General Skywalker. Anakin walked out of the bridge making his way to a turbolift and nervously made his way to the crew quarters section where his new shared Quarters with Aalya was.
The Resolute: Anakin and Aalya's quarters.
Anakin walked into his shared quarters with Aalya nervously as he looked around. Anakin had shared quarters with other Jedi before but this was different these quarters only had one bed so he would be sharing it with Aalya unlike the quarters he had at the Jedi temple, also the Jedi he shared his room with was his girlfriend not his master and that scared him because it was a big move somewhat faster then he originally hoped still he had been grateful when he sensed her in the room and she immediately sensed his thoughts and silently reassured him through their bond before speaking. "I know this is a big step for us but don't worry Anakin as I promised we will take it slow and I don't plan to take your virginity yet that will be after you become my husband so you can relax my love." Aalya said in a soothing voice sensing his fears and insecurities she slowly approached him "Besides Anakin I want it to be special but that does not mean we cannot cuddle a little but that will all come with time I want this to work as bad as you so as promised we will take things one step at a time." Aalya said flashing Anakin a flirty smile.
Anakin relaxed, Aalya's flirting tended to calm him since they got together, Anakin always took her advances as encouraging since most of them never pushed beyond his comfort level and she had a point while he wanted to take it slow until they married they had to get comfortable around each other romantically. Anakin this time surprised Aalya wrapping his arms around her kissing her softly at first not being used to being the aggressor, then feeling her melt in his arms and a moan come from her lips he deepened the kiss the two lovers lost in their passionate embrace for a few minutes before Aalya then grew bold and surprised Anakin sending oxygen into his lungs as they kissed Anakin knew what this was to a Twi'lek, a kiss like this one was one only given by a female Twi'lek to the man she intended to marry. Anakin remembered hearing about this from an older slave woman who had told him that it was their way of promising to marry them someday a sort of marriage proposal. Aalya his friend for ten years and now girlfriend was now giving him a rare gift that few ever got from her kind.
Anakin knew how to respond to the proposal as soon as Aalya pressed tightly to him in the embrace Anakin let the oxygen flow into him and shared the air with her, joy erupted in their bond from Aalya mixed with slight confusion as she was not too sure how he learned this about her species but she was glad none the less at knowing the man she loved since she was a girl wanted to be with her for the rest of their lives. Aalya smiled as Anakin broke the kiss this time. "Anakin that was the most solemn promise one of my kind can make you never need to fear me leaving you again that is not going to happen and when we get everything settled I do want to marry you." Aalya said pausing before she continued. "I want to do this right you are my soulmate so lets worry about building a home I know the perfect spot on Ryloth then after that is done I know someone who can do our ceremony." Aalya said taking Anakin's hands in her own no longer holding him in a tight embrace.
Anakin gave Aalya a nod and then yawned feeling the fatigue of the last week catch up with him. Aalya sensing this gave him a worried look. "Skywalker you should rest it has been a busy week for you." Anakin looked at Aalya a knowing expression on his face then glanced at the bed a look of slight fear on his face. Aalya instantly knew what the fear was about, it had barely been a month since his mother died and like Obi-Wan she had known about his nightmares prior to his mother's death and she remembered how awful they were for him to endure. Aalya gently guided him to the bed after he changed into his nightwear and lay next to him wrapping an arm around his chest. "Anakin I will be right here you will not be alone I promise now get some sleep." Aalya said gently as she kissed him on the cheek and closed her eyes. Anakin did the same hoping for some needed rest.
The Resolute: Obi-Wan's quarters.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was lost to say the least, so much had changed in the last several weeks since leaving Coruscant first was the fact that he and his group no longer trusted the council, then there was Anakin. Anakin had become a fine Jedi Knight no thanks to the council save Aalya Secura. Obi-Wan shed a tear remembering the many times the masters failed to handle Anakin. then Obi-Wan burst into tears thinking about the woman he loved Siri Tachi. Obi-Wan sighed "If only I had listened to you the first time Siri we may still be together when you warned me about the council we might still be together now." Obi-Wan said aloud bursting into tears cupping his face with his hands. Siri was on the opposite end of the door as she barely heard his words of heartache, not being one to give him privacy she walked into the room. "Obi-Wan listen to me, you learned the truth or at least a part of it, I was angry at the council because of the cruelty they treated Anakin with no other Padawan was treated like he was." Siri paused. "I was angry with you because you went along with it despite being his master in essence you were acting like you wanted Anakin to fail and he almost did but Aalya saved him but we all left because the council will never understand that." Siri said in a calm voice.
Obi-Wan looked up at Siri confused "What are you saying?" Obi-Wan asked. Siri looked at Obi-Wan a soft smile crossing her face before she spoke. "Obi-Wan, you are the closest thing Anakin will ever have to a father and though he will never say this aloud ever since his mom died I know he thinks of me as a second mom, Shimi gave birth to him but we raised him as our own I never ever stopped loving you Kenobi I still love you even now, I want to give us the chance we did not have in the temple the council cannot stop us now anyway." Siri paused tears filling her eyes before she spoke again. "What do you say can we try again?" Siri asked.
Obi-Wan opened his arms wide as Siri rushed towards him "Of course we can!" Obi-Wan exclaimed as they hugged each other tightly spending the next several hours catching up making up for lost time.
Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter I plan to use a combination of some of the old clone wars content and some of the modern stuff in the future as this is an alternate universe for those curious Palpatine will make an appearance off and on but will be more involved in later chapters same with Padme also not to give major spoilers but next chapter will have a slight time jump but you will see stay tuned for more may the force be with you always.