Thank you all for hanging out and reading all the way through! I can't believe we got through it all andI didn't have a single meltdown or miss a posting!

Once again - let's give a big hand of applause to Beta Boy! He is a GOD!

And now, for fun - This originally started out in the notes for the overall story - but pacing wise just didn't fit. I filed it away with the rest of my drafts and ideas that either never made it into any of the postings or was forgotten about, then one day, a few years ago I found it and worked on it a little more - to entertain myself. When I decided to re-edit and post the story here I decided to include it as a Bonus chapter. Though it's rough - Beta Boy needs a little down time before we start posting Fear and Love so this is the equivalent to a deleted scene!

Enjoy - and please join us on the Fear and Love board. I'll be posting the Spotify Soundtrack link for Seasons One and Two in a few days. Since music is a huge part of Fear and Love I highly recommend you check it out.

PP

Bonus Chapter
Fragile Deleted Scene

30 ABY
Intel Office, Third Fleet Flagship Lusankya
8 Months After Anakin's Return

Anakin walked into the outer office of the Intelligence Department and smiled at the receptionist. She was on the comm, so he took a seat in the waiting area; she knew why he was there, she'd let Tahiri know when she had a chance.

He smiled at Paloma, who was already sitting there with Will, who was playing with a set of stacking cubes.

Will was trying to eat the smallest of the cubes; Paloma was trying to get him to not eat the cubes. Will smiled at his father, then turned back to Paloma and offered to put the cube he'd been slobbering on into her mouth. When Paloma dodged the wet treat, Will looked up at Bram, standing behind them, and offered him the cube.

Bram wasn't supposed to be watching Will, he was supposed to be watching for threats, but Anakin knew that in this small room, with Anakin only a few meters away, and Tahiri only down the hall, that Bram could do both at once, and smiled when Bram leaned over and allowed Will to shove the wet treat into his mouth.

That man was beyond indulgent.

Anakin pulled his datapad out of a pocket in the leg of his flightsuit. He figured he'd pass the time by reading a few more of the simm scores from pilots he'd tested that morning. He'd seen some really good pilots, a few he thought he'd really like to fly with, but something was missing; there were elements he needed for the unit that just hadn't come up yet. He didn't know if it was pilots, or a combination of pilots, or a vibe.

Maybe a name? he mused.

Tahiri had been teasing him relentlessly about that, the fact that he couldn't even think of a name. She'd made several suggestions, most of which she'd barely been able to say while she laughed uncontrollably.

He wanted it to be right, and he'd had it with her mocking. The last time she'd started in on him he'd tackled her to their bed… their bed, in retaliation, tickling her until she could barely breathe, and then made her beg for forgiveness for teasing him. She'd shown appropriate contrition, and paid an acceptable penance, and not for the first time Anakin had been really, really happy with the new living arrangements; the fact that they were in their own quarters, in their own room, no longer had to sneak around.

He knew that there was something not right with the squad and he wasn't ready to present his unit to Wedge and Tycho yet. He figured that the Force would show him eventually and that stressing out about it wasn't going to do him any good, so he'd wait. If there was one thing he'd learned in all that had happened over the last year it was that relaxing and waiting to see what the Force had in store for him was the way to go; the Force would show him what the Force wanted him to know when the Force was good and ready.

And apparently, the Force wanted him to pay attention to the guy who had just walked into the office and asked to speak with Agent Veila.

He got an instant impression from Paloma that this guy was 'something', an instant impression that Bram had not told him about this guy and should have.

"I have an appointment, I think you'll find that Agent Veila will be quite vexed to find that you've kept me waiting."

Quite vexed?

Who talks like that? And why was this blow hard giving Angeline a hard time?

The Togruta that worked as Iella, Winter and Tahiri's receptionist, a distant cousin of Paloma's, couldn't be any sweeter, and unlike her cousin, who had a evil streak a kilometer wide when provoked, Angeline would never stand up to abuse dished out by someone like this.

Just as Anakin and Paloma were both on the verge of stepping in, the creep finally accepted that Tahiri's meeting had gone later than planned and she wasn't available yet and sat down.

Lucky for him.

Still, something about this guy was just begging Anakin to engage.

"So... you trying to get in to see Agent Veila too?" He asked the man conversationally.

The creep was tall, though not as tall as Anakin, blonde, almost as blonde as Tahiri, with dark blue eyes. He looked at Anakin dismissively, and Anakin had to work to stifle a chuckle.

"She's a hard woman to catch." Anakin continued.

"She's important. Her time's valuable."

Anakin felt a surge of emotion from Paloma, watched her shift slightly as Will turned toward Anakin. He realized she was trying to distract his son for him, so he could continue with the man sitting between them.

Anakin loved Paloma.

"So I hear. I've only been on ship a short time, haven't seen as much of the agent as I'd like."

The man looked Anakin over, a look of disdain turning his features cruel, and Anakin wondered if Tahiri typically attracted men like this. Then he realized; he had no idea whatsoever what type of men his wife attracted. He was the only man he'd ever known of that had been in her life. He had never thought to ask her if she'd dated while he'd been gone. He'd just assumed that she hadn't; assumed that she'd been so consumed by grief, and pregnancy, that she hadn't had a chance, or that it hadn't occurred to her. Now that he gave it some thought though, it seemed silly. Why wouldn't she have dated if he was supposed to have been dead? She was a beautiful woman; she was young, bright, funny, fun to be with. In an environment where plenty of men would be seeing her on a daily basis, seeing her showcasing her talents, why would he assume that she wouldn't have had men throwing themselves at her?

If he were really dead would he want her to spend the rest of her life pining for him, living in misery, all alone? Isn't that precisely what Older Tahiri had done? Isn't that what had led to Older Tahiri's downfall? Not getting on with her life and finding love again?

But did Anakin want Tahiri finding 'love' with the creep sitting next to him?

Or did this guy just seem like a creep because he was upset that his meeting was late and he was sitting next to Anakin?

One way to find out.

Anakin turned to speak again, then Creep's voice replayed in Anakin's mind.

I think you'll find that Agent Veila will be quite vexed to find that you've kept me waiting.

Seeing Tahiri 'vexed' was one of Anakin's favorite things, as long as she wasn't 'vexed' with him, and he was curious as to whether or not she'd really be that 'vexed' by not getting to see this guy.

He used the Force to trigger the inner office comm switch on Angeline's desk, winked at her when she rolled her eyes at him, then gave Creep his best Solo smile.

"I don't suppose you could tell me anything about her? Agent Veila."

"I beg your pardon?" Creep asked, clearly offended.

"I'm sorry, unless, of course, you're here for the same reason I'm here, in which case, I can understand your not wanting to give me a hand in my pursuit."

"I'm here for professional reasons. I hardly think speaking of Agent Veila in terms of 'pursuit' is appropriate."

"Ah, yeah. I suppose that didn't sound very gentlemanly."

Creep looked uncomfortable, and shifted in his seat.

Bram was wearing his best 'soldier' look; totally emotionless. Anakin was going to have to find out later why Bram had never mentioned Creep to him, because he could feel that Creep should have been mentioned.

"Though I must admit, I'm a little confused, isn't she married?" Anakin asked. "I've been having a hard time figuring out what the deal is with her husband."

That opened the floodgates; and Anakin had to stifle another laugh at the fact that that was all it took.

"Her 'husband'," Creep almost spit, "is hardly of consequence. He's crazy and she kicked him out."

"Really?" Anakin asked. "So she is available? I was almost afraid to hope."

Anakin shot Paloma a look as she ducked behind Will, using him as a shield to hide her laughter, then turned his attention back to Creep, who was suddenly a wealth of information.

"Bastard attacked her; was horribly abusive. Could have killed her. She's lucky to be away from him."

"Wow, I didn't realize."

Anakin was suddenly grateful for all the therapy he'd been going to, and wondered how he would be taking this conversation had he not finally been able to fix things with Tahiri. Although, he had to admit; he had started this. And, he had to admit, he was going to pay for it, since he was the one that triggered the comm, making sure that Tahiri heard it too. Maybe she'd be 'vexed' with him afterall.

"After abandoning her and their child, he went crazy. Thankfully, Tahiri has a very strong support system here," Creep was saying.

"Thankfully." Anakin agreed, though Creep didn't seem to notice.

"But she's recovering, and she's the strongest woman I know. She'll be fine when all is said and done. It's just a shame she'll be forever linked to him through that child."

"Oh…" Anakin was almost too stunned to react to that one. "You're not fond of the child? I hear he's a pretty cute kid."

"It's not that," Creep back pedaled. "It's just that she'll never be truly free of the crazy husband as long as they share a child. But, he abandoned them once, if I'm lucky, he may very well abandon them again."

"If you're lucky?" Anakin asked. "Are you actually dating her? Are things serious? I didn't realize."

Creep blushed slightly, and Anakin watched in fascination.

"No, not… well, we've been… It's been difficult… our schedules have been hectic… it's been a time issue really, and I've not been on ship as much as I've liked to have been."

"How unfortunate for you." Anakin commiserated. "I understand how that goes. Wanting to make time, being stuck some place you don't want to be. Not being able to get to the place that special person is… I've been there. Literally. It's rough. And the food sucks."

Paloma choked on another laugh and Creep turned to her, but Anakin grabbed his attention back by asking another question.

"So, I apologize for seeming so forward, but I'll be honest, I came down here myself to see if I could take Agent Veila to lunch. If that's what you're here for…" Anakin let the sentence trail off, and looked at Creep expectantly, dying to hear what the man would come back with.

"I've actually got a meeting with Agents Celchu and Wessiri. I requested that Agent Veila attend."

"Ah, I see. So, maybe she just won't be available for me. Well, I guess we'll just have to see how it goes."

Anakin turned in his chair, and pulled his datapad up again, shaking his head.

The man had backed down at the end, but still… he seemed truly territorial, and Anakin couldn't quite figure out how this man could have deluded himself into thinking that he had any sort of claim on Tahiri. Even if Tahiri had thought Anakin was dead, even if she had mourned him and gotten on with her life, she was not the kind of woman who would put up with that behavior from a man.

Besides that, even though they'd been separated for three months, and then again during those horrible few weeks while they dealt with Anakin's anger at Tahiri for what had gone on between her and his family on Hapes, Anakin knew she wouldn't have been giving this guy any signs that she was interested in him.

That simply wasn't possible.

He felt a little tingly sensation in the back of his mind and smiled. Tahiri was not as amused by his little stunt as Bram or Paloma had been. Whoever was in the conference room with her was though, then he felt her not so gently scold him, and slip away.

Creep turned back, and Angeline flicked the switch back on, and Creep had everyone's full attention.

"So, I have to ask; you aren't an Intelligence Officer are you?"

"No, I'm not." Anakin smiled.

"Pilot?"

"Yes, among other things."

"How is it that you know Agent Veila?"

Eww… that was tricky… how did he answer that, without out and out lying, but still having fun?

Creep didn't give him a chance to come up with an answer though: "You said you haven't been on ship that long."

"Not that long. I saw a little of her when I first got here. Then I didn't see her at all for a few months, but I've seen more of her recently." Anakin grinned again, and added, "I saw her working out the other day though," then let out a low whistle. "Stellar body."

Creep smiled in a way that almost made Anakin want to wrap his hands around Creep's neck… but then, Anakin reminded himself… he was the one who started this.

"Yeah, weird as all those Jedi are," Creep said, "the conditioning isn't for nothing."

Anakin actually laughed at that. "Yeah, who cares about protecting the galaxy, it's the smoking hot women I'm interested in. Maybe there are a few more around. Agent Veila might have friends, you know, so we don't have to fight over her."

"No one is going to be doing any fighting over me."

Tahiri's voice was cold as ice, and Anakin had to bite back another laugh as Creep jumped from his chair and stumbled towards her. She glared at him, then walked forward, hands on her hips, and glared at Anakin, then finally took Will from Paloma's arms and fixed her, then Bram, with an arch look and scolded; "Don't think you two aren't in trouble too," before turning back around.

Creep finally seemed to understand that it was Tahiri's son, and his nanny, who had been sitting next to him throughout the conversation he'd just had with Anakin and immediately looked from Paloma to Tahiri a few times, his mouth working like a fish sucking in water, until he finally said, a little sheepishly, "It's so good to see you again, Tah… Agent Veila. I'm sorry if the end of that conversation seemed inappropriate. I'm sure it sounded worse than it was."

Creep then looked at Anakin, for help, or to blame him for the inappropriate conversation, Anakin couldn't tell. Anakin just sat there, legs stretched out in front of him, hands clasped behind his head, and grinned widely.

Creep seemed confused as to why Anakin was so unperturbed by the whole situation. His confused expression changed to one of incredulity when Tahiri kicked Anakin's feet, hard, and Anakin laughed.

Creep's expression then turned to utter defeat when Anakin stood up, wrapped his arms around Tahiri and Will, kissed her forehead and said, "Hello my love, I came down to see what a man had to do to steal his wife away for lunch and was just chatting with your friend…" then he turned toward Creep and extended his hand and said, "I'm sorry, we never actually introduced ourselves. I'm Colonel Anakin Solo, Agent Veila's crazy husband."

That's all folks!

Thanks again for reading!