Chapter 20
"What? What kind of question is that?" Anakin asks.
"A simple one. A lot's happened, Anakin. A lot you don't know about. Now, are you coming with me?" Ahsoka asks, her eyes shining.
"Ahsoka— I— I don't know. The war—" Anakin stutters.
"You don't have to make that decision now. There will come a time that you'll have to choose, though. At least join me for dinner. I want you to meet someone," Ahsoka says.
"Ahsoka, I understand wanting to leave the Order. More than you know, I understand wanting to leave. But we can't just leave," Anakin states.
"I know. Padme told me," Ahsoka whispers.
Scratching his neck, Anakin says, "In that case I guess I will join you for dinner."
"Glad you could make it. Your wife is hosting, after all." Ahsoka replies.
"Actually, now that I think about it, we need to grab Macy," Ahsoka adds.
"James!" Macy calls out, running up and hugging him.
"Macy! Thank God you're okay," James says, planting a kiss on top of her head, holding her tight.
"Thank you again, Padme, for taking care of James," Ahsoka states.
"Oh, it was nothing, really. It was the least I could do," Padme replies.
James walks up and hugs Ahsoka, Anakin doing the same to Padme.
"Anakin, I'd like you to meet James Dune. My fiancée." Ahsoka says, James slipping her engagement ring back onto her finger.
"I see," Anakin says, arms crossed.
Padme elbows him in the side, Anakin reluctantly extending his hand.
"Why don't you two go talk while we three make dinner," Ahsoka suggests.
Anakin extends his arm toward the living room, following James.
"So how long have you and Ahsoka known each other?" Anakin asks, arms crossed.
"About two years. We started dating about a year ago," James replies, his tone tense.
"And what do you do for work, James?"
"I'm Special Forces, spent four years doing operations before I met Ahsoka," James replies.
Anakin's eyes widen, "You're military?"
"Yes, sir. Petty Officer James Dune, at your service."
Anakin finally smiles, uncrossing his arms, James's shoulders dropping, "General Anakin Skywalker. It's good to meet another man of war," Anakin says.
"Ahsoka, if you're leaving the Jedi, are you leaving the Army as well?" Anakin asks.
"I don't know. I'm going wait and see how things play out," She replies.
"Ahsoka's leaving the Jedi?" Padme asks.
"You should've been there. She basically told Windu where to shove it," Anakin replies.
"Have some manners, Ani," Padme says.
"You'll need a job if you leave the Jedi. I hear Commander pays quite well in the Army." Anakin says.
Anakin continues, looking at James, "Captain pays good, too. I've been looking for a Captain. I was going to promote Jesse, but if you're interested, I'm sure we could work something out."
"That would be up to Ahsoka, I'm afraid," James replies, Ahsoka shuddering at the mention of Jesse's name.
"On a lighter note, have you two talked about the wedding?" Padme asks.
Ahsoka's eyes light up, her hands going to her thighs, "Oh my god, James, we have to get married on Naboo, it has the most beautiful waterfalls!"
Anakin and James groan, Ahsoka and Padme glaring at their respective men.
"Ahsoka, time to get up," Anakin calls.
Ahsoka groans, the light blinding her.
"Kenobi will be here soon; he's bringing your belongings from the Temple."
Ahsoka nods, heading for the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she's greeted by a familiar face hovering in the mirror.
"I was wondering when you'd show up. Care to explain what the hell is going on?" Ahsoka asks, her jaw clenched.
"You were reborn for a purpose, Ahsoka. You must fulfill that purpose, here and elsewhere."
"And what if I don't feel like it?"
"You know of the tragedy before you. You cannot change what has happened or what will happen. Only how it happens. Change the heart and the mind will follow."
"What do you mean I can't change it? I changed the trial… Oh."
"The timeline is fluid on a small scale, but the river is still only flowing to a single destination. You can't change the river, but you can still swim ashore. Before I go, a gift," The Daughter says, smiling before vanishing.
"What about the—" Ahsoka stops, taking a step back as she feels the difference.
"So that's the gift," Ahsoka says to herself, feeling the Force flowing through her stronger than ever.
She closes her eyes and feels the comfort of Anakin's aura, almost overwhelming.
Ahsoka uses the Force to retrieve a washcloth but overestimating the effort the cloth zips past her and into the wall.
Interesting.
A knock on the door, "Ahsoka? I have your things," Obi-Wan states.
She opens the door, smiling, "Just set them on the bed."
Ahsoka walks to the hall, "James! We need to talk!" Ahsoka walks back into the bedroom with Kenobi, waiting.
James finally steps in, closing the door behind him.
"Master Kenobi, this is my soon-to-be husband, James Dune. We met on Earth. James, this is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," Ahsoka says.
"James, if you weren't already aware, anything relating to Earth is to be kept a secret. Unfortunately, the people asking questions will likely be Force-sensitive, so lying won't work, at least not for you. The only person that is on a need-to-know basis is Kenobi here. That being said, gentlemen, we have some very critical events coming up sooner than I'd like to admit. We will meet at the diner tonight, 0100 hours. James, you'll ride with me. It's a date if anyone asks. Macy will be back at the Temple for the time being. Understood?"
Both men nod.
"Good. We'll see each other soon."
Author's Note:
Insert the usual "took long enough" lines. Now that some mechanics have been established, we're slowly moving forward again.
The word procreation implies the existence of noobcreation.
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