Chapter 7 – Old Friends Not Forgotten

Author's Note: In which things draw to a close... :')

Thank you all so, so much for all the support you've shown! It means so much to all of us that you enjoyed this story! :D

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka isn't really sure how they managed to convince Anakin of this, but somehow, they ended up leaving the next morning. So now they're here. She isn't sure whether she should be scared or excited that she's going to meet one of her old friends again, one who she was so certain was dead for fifteen years. But she has no idea how he acts now, how everything that happened has affected him. She knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would have felt it when Anakin Fell, and knows of his fate. He's not going to be the person she used to know, and she has no idea how he's going to react to seeing her. He'll be glad, right?

She has no idea.

All she could think about the last time they meant was the terms they parted on, and now, years later, she really feels bad that they literally fought the entire time there, and most of all, that Anakin was caught in the middle of it. If not for that... maybe everything would have gone differently, but the past is the past.

And none of her daydreams help with the present, because she has no idea how to act, and the unbearable nervousness coursing through her is only increasing as Hera lands the ship.

She can only hope Obi-Wan might be able to provide some insight on what to do about Anakin. Something is wrong and she doesn't know what, but Obi-Wan should know what to do. He always has.

Ahsoka's gaze wonders to where Anakin is seated next to Rex, backed up as far as he can against the seat. He looks so young, so vulnerable like that. He's scared. She can feel it, but she doesn't know why. She highly suspects the only reason he isn't panicking is since Rex and Sabine have been having a far too animated conversation – about blasters of all things – that she doesn't care to listen to. Or at least that's how it started. Mandalorians.

After a moment of thought, she makes her way over to him and climbs up next to him. He glances over at her, expression unreadable, but remains silent. "You don't have to go out there," she reminds. "I can handle this and tell you what we figured out."

"If you figure anything out," he replies dully.

"Can't we at least try to be a little more optimistic about this?" grumbles Kanan.

"No."

Ahsoka tries to maintain some semblance of calm as her, Kanan, and Ezra leave the ship. She has no idea how Obi-Wan will react to seeing them. Especially since they're literally... little children again.

And what she really isn't expecting is that he's waiting for them. He looks so... so... old. "Ahsoka?" At least he sounds the same.

The question of how he knew they were coming die on her lips, and she's suddenly struck by the realization of exactly how long it's been since she's last seen him. Without a second thought, she sprints up the sand hill and throws herself into his arms. He catches her awkwardly but doesn't pull away, so she takes it as a plus.

He feels so different in the Force. So much... darker. After what happened, it's not a surprise, but that doesn't mean it's easy to see him like this. "How'd you know we were coming?" she asks finally.

"I felt the disturbance. I sensed you."

Ahsoka pulls back, mildly annoyed she's so much smaller than him again. "Do you know what to do?"

"Why don't you start from the beginning?"

So, she does. Right back at the very start. Despite her better judgement, the entire story from start to finish pours out, though she tries to limit as much mention of Vader as possible it all came out anyway. And maybe a little too much about last night, too, because by the time she's done talking, Obi-Wan looks – and feels – very upset. Not the angry kind, either, and that's the worst part. "Do you know what to do?" she asks in a rush. "I can't stand seeing him like this."

"Ahsoka. You shouldn't have brought him here."

His response floors her. "What?" she squeaks. "Why? He had to come with us, and you were the only person I could find."

"All that aside," Kanan interrupts, "I think the important question is what we're going to do."

No one has a chance to answer. The Force hums in warning, of danger and darkness. No, no, no– "Stay here," is all Ahsoka says before sprinting back to the ship.

When she arrives and pushes past everyone in the way no questions asked, Anakin is pacing in their cabin, arms crossed. He stops when she enters, turning slowly. His eyes are gold again. Mostly. Force, what did she cause?

"Anakin?" Ahsoka asks slowly, stepping forwards. She doesn't know if he wants her nearby right now.

"'Soka." His voice is strained. He's breathing way too fast, and she's pretty sure the longer they stay here, the worse he's getting. They need to hurry, but she has no idea how long it'll take. Obi-Wan was right. She should never have brought him here, but she did, and now she has to make this right somehow.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, cautiously approaching him. He doesn't back away, which she's thankful for. "I should've listened..."

"You did what you had to." He sounds far to lifeless.

"I chose myself over you. Again." Her eyes burn but she stubbornly refuses to cry. "I wasn't really thinking before bringing you here."

His eyes narrow. "What did he tell you?"

"Nothing. But I know something's wrong." He watches her scrutinizing but remains silent. She hates the silence. It feels like mistrust. It didn't used to be this way, but what did? "We were supposed to do everything together."

"It was your choice not to."

She flinches but can't object. It's the truth, one that only comes back to haunt her. She doesn't really know how it happened, but somehow, she ends up with her arms around him again, face pressed into his shoulder. Neither says a word, but there's not much they could say anymore. Not that hasn't already been said.

"We need to go outside," Anakin warns at last. "I sense... someone. Maul."

"What?" Ahsoka yelps, pulling back. "How?"

"He followed us here."

**w**

Anakin can't quite say why he thought this was a good idea. Or why he bothered at all. But he and Ahsoka are out here now, him clumsily holding a much-too-big lightsaber in both hands that used to belong to Ahsoka because she pitched a fit about him taking his red one, facing Maul. "You shouldn't've come back," Anakin warns.

"You can't expect me to fear you."

Is that what he thinks? He's not going to let the Sith escape a second time. He's collateral damage now, and they can't afford Sidious to find out exactly what happened. Not until they've fixed this mess, assuming they actually can.

"What do you want?" Ahsoka demands, raising her other lightsaber. She's holding it in both hands, about to ignite it even though the blade is literally longer than she is tall. "If you're here to finish your fight, you're going to have to wait. And if you're after Sidious, you can be of use."

"He's not all I'm here for."

Of course, Maul won't give up that quickly. "Concern yourself with petty matters after Sidious has been dealt with."

"He is not the only threat," the former Sith Lord growls.

Snap-hiss. "Don't you dare," Ahsoka snarls, the white blade raised. It looks awkward for her, struggling to hold it in a semi-decent position, but he trained her well on fighting much bigger opponents. Not this much bigger, but the idea is the same. In a flash, she's shoved him behind her, standing protectively. He's missed this. He's missed her. He's missed the feel of family. The feel of protection, though there's nothing she can do now.

"You will fail," Anakin warns.

He doesn't have a warning before the Force tightens around his neck, jerking him into the air. Torrents of memories are assaulting his mind at once and he struggles, fighting back instantly. Reaching into the Force. He can't die yet. Not yet. Once Sidious is gone. It's been his goal from the very start. And he won't rest until he's gone. Darkness blurs the edges of his vision, but he reaches deeper into the Force and rips the grip off himself. He falls to the ground, panting, just as Ahsoka lunges forwards, only for her to be flung away across a hill.

Maul is approaching him now, and Anakin knows he should get up, and he would have, if he didn't suddenly feel that presence again. He's close. Too close. Memories burn at the edge of his consciousness. No, there's no time, he needs to move. He can't die, not yet. He doesn't even know when it changed, because he was planning to let Malachor be the end, decided with finality moment his sister proved she'd rather see him dead then help him again.

The Force is humming in warning, but all he can focus on are the memories burning – literally – at the edge of his mind. It's never happened before that he just froze, and he knows something's wrong with him. Or maybe it's that he just doesn't care after all. It's what he's wanted, right? For everything to just end.

The sound of lightsabers clashing makes him look up. Of course. Obi-Wan came to finish up his fight with Maul from years ago. A semi-hysterical part of his mind wonders if it's the only fight that'll be finished today, and he opts to ignore it in favor of scrambling over to Ahsoka, who's sitting up looking slightly dazed.

She reaches out to tightly grip his shaking hand.

This. This is it.

There's talking in the background, but he doesn't let himself focus on anything or anyone other than Ahsoka. There are more pressing matters to worry about.

"You need to take out Sidious, whatever it takes," Anakin tells her.

"Me?" she asks dubiously. "And what are you planning to do?"

He ignores her. There isn't time to handle those questions. Or think about them. "There are more Jedi out there, I know it, but whatever you do, he'll sense it. You have one chance, and you have to make it right."

"Anakin, we hardly know anything about his – why are we even talking about this?!"

"When else would you like to?" he fires back. "We don't have a 'later' anymore. We're out of time."

Ahsoka frowns, reaching up with her other hand to touch his arm. Even now, he's still getting used to the contact. It's so foreign to him now. "I don't know what's going on, but whatever it is, I'll fight with you."

"So, you say, after you try to kill me." His voice is more bitter than intended, but it's the truth. "It doesn't matter anymore." Nothing she says changes what happens, and for as much as he loves her, he can't trust her anymore.

The Force whispers in warning. He doesn't know why it even draws his attention up to the battle again – he doesn't want to watch – but it does.

He doesn't know how or why he reacts. Something inside him throws him forwards. He reaches out, and Ahsoka's other lightsaber flies to his hand from atop the hill where he dropped it earlier.

Maul clearly hadn't been expecting someone else to intervene in the fight. He'd been stupid enough to leave himself unshielded, and Anakin doesn't waste a moment before igniting the blade and throwing it. It sails across the sand, stabbing through the former Sith's chest. Anakin feels his life fading instantly and is slightly surprised when he just feels numb about it. The Force carries the hilt back to his hands and turns off.

Everything goes quiet, and his gaze drops to the sand. Honestly, he has no idea why he just did that. The Sith could've been talked into reason and help them kill Sidious. Maybe. He should've thought through more clearly.

"Anakin."

Why's it so hard to remember how to breathe? It should come naturally. It doesn't. Because of him. He keeps his head down, not wanting to see anyone, not wanting anything but for everything to just... stop. But Ahsoka's lightsaber hilt catches his attention, and he flips it over in his hands, wondering how she made it in times like these. It's not same one she used to have, and he has her shoto. The one he made entirely.

He hears Obi-Wan stepping towards him and flinches back. Not now, not now, not now –

"You might want to keep your distance," Ahsoka warns suddenly. "He's been a little jumpy."

He wonders if she felt the surge of gratitude through there now-strengthened bond, even if he's been shielding. It's quiet. Too quiet. Maybe he's just too impatient. Or too scared. He hates the silence. He has no idea what anyone's thinking and won't unless he looks or feels, but he can't do either or this lightsaber might go flying at someone else. Ahsoka probably won't appreciate it if Obi-Wan is the next person on the other end. "If you're going to try killing me again, I suggest you hurry up about it." Way to go. He's almost tempted to facepalm. This childish body is making him act ridiculous.

There's a brief pause. "If what Ahsoka said is true, we have no reason to fight."

He wants to believe Obi-Wan, but he can't. And he hates himself for wanting to. This, this is the person who took everything from him. Sidious may have set it up, but it was Obi-Wan who chose to hurt him. But right now, there's nothing he can do about any of it. He itches to run, but he knows it'll do no good. "What do we need to do?"

**w**

It's good to be back. Ahsoka leans against the back of her seat, eyeing Zeb and Ezra who seem quite contented with beating each other up over a round of Dejarik while Chopper wildly wishes doom on everyone in the background.

She still isn't exactly sure how they managed it. But being stuck in the body of a five-year-old was an absolute nightmare. At least she has Anakin back, and that's all that matters even if he's struggling. At least he's here, and they can work things out together. This time.

The moment everyone gone turned back into... well, how they were supposed to be, Kanan disappeared off to have a long talk with Hera. Or whatever else, but they've been in there for at least an hour.

Ahsoka hopes they'll be leaving Tatooine the next day, but that will really depend on Anakin and Obi-Wan. And whenever they finish their...talk. The one Ahsoka still can't believe everyone managed to force them into having. It hadn't been easy, but she didn't really want to sit in there and make sure they talk, because, well, she doesn't know what happened. And if she's being honest, she doesn't want to know.

She has no idea if they'll sort anything out, but since she hasn't heard anything that sounds possibly lethal, she'll keep waiting. And maybe, if they are lucky just this once, they'll work together long enough for Sidious to destroyed, and sort things out by the time he's dead.

This... this is nice. She feels at home again, marginally, and for once, she lets herself wonder what things will be like after the Empire. What they'll rebuild together, because she's staying with Anakin, whichever path he chooses.

It's still hard to understand, much less accept, that she has her brother back. And he's – it's strange to see, if she's being honest, but he's fully human again. After eighteen years, she can't even imagine what that must mean to him.

And these people are her family, together again, even if they've spent years apart. It's not something anything can ever make up for, but they have much of their lives ahead of them yet. Even if Ahsoka is the only one, she's fully intent on pulling them all back together and keeping them this way.

Her brothers – Rex and Anakin – are on relatively good terms after having a long talk themselves. They're the only ones. Obi-Wan has a long way to go fitting in, and Ahsoka to trust him, but she's just glad he's here. Her and Anakin have a long way to go themselves, but all that matters is they're willing to try for each other.

And this time, not even the most powerful Sith in the galaxy is taking them apart.

THE END! :D

(Unless everyone wants more... and gives me an idea for what could happen.)