Online school starts for me tomorrow… yay… :( But I'm going to do my very best to keep uploading this consistently!

Also whoops… I forgot that Togruta are carnivores. Good job me. Just pretend that they aren't I guess

Anakin and Ahsoka sat in the living room of the Tano residence, the smell of cooking food making their stomachs growl. The tears on their faces had long since dried, and Anakin felt content for the first time in a very long time.

"Anakin," Ahsoka said. "Would you like to have a duel?"

"Sure," He responded. "I'm assuming we'd use the fake lightsabers?"

"Yeah," She confirmed, looking a little downcast about the fact that her lightsabers were gone.

Anakin nudged her arm, distracting her the best way he knew how. "Get ready to lose."

Ahsoka grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I don't think so, Skyguy." Anakin ignored the bittersweet realization that that was the first time he had heard the nickname since her departure.

"The loosing's going to have to wait," came a voice from the doorway. The two of them looked up to see Coraa peeking around the corner. "Dinner's ready." Anakin and Ahsoka stood, not even trying to contain their excitement at the prospect of food. It had never occurred to Anakin before how similar their mannerisms were, but as they walked, Anakin could see himself in Ahsoka. He wasn't sure how he had never noticed it before.

Coraa continued down the hall, yelling downstairs to Ovota. Does he live here? Anakin wondered. Ovota seemed like a nice kid, but there was something about him that bothered Anakin.

Anakin and Ahsoka joined Sulo at the table, soon followed by Coraa and an eager looking Ovota. Even though he looked like he was a year or so older than Ahsoka, his actions made him seem far younger and more immature. The boy shot a nervous glance in Anakin's direction before grabbing a helping of food.

In the center of the table, there was a large, steaming bowl, which seemed to be filled with a Pilaf of some sort. Anakin scooped some onto his plate, his stomach growling.

"So," Coraa said, helping herself to the food. "How long was Ahsoka your student, Anakin?"

"Since she was 14 up until she left the order," Anakin responded, hoping that that didn't give away Ahsoka's secret. Anakin took a bite of the food, relishing the taste.

"So, Ahsoka, were you with him on the front lines?" Sulo asked bluntly.

Well, Kriff. Ahsoka spoke to him through the force. We're in for it now, Anakin.

"Yeah," She said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Ahsoka was a talented, skillful warrior. She was brave and selfless, and she was incredibly smart. But Ahsoka couldn't act if her life depended on it. Which it had, on several occasions, and she still sounded about as convincing as the kids Anakin used to play House with on Tatooine. Now, in her attempt to sound nonchalant, she had ended up sounding very guilty, which she was.

"What?" Ovota asked, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. Coraa and Sulo looked far less surprised, and not even the slightest bit as impressed.

"It's not a big deal," Ahsoka insisted. "I was never in any real danger."

Wow, Anakin thought to her. You are such a liar.

You're not helping, She shot back, giving him a look.

"I assure you, I would never have let anything happen to her," Anakin said. It was a lie. He had failed to keep her safe countless times. It was the same lie he told himself when he would lie awake and try to justify bringing a 14 year old girl to War.

They have a right to know the truth, He told her. I put you in danger. Force, Ahsoka, you died. Anakin shivered at the memory.

You can't blame yourself for that, She insisted. I was a Jedi. It was my duty. Anakin didn't think that made it ok in the slightest, but he decided to table that discussion for a later date.

Still, they deserve to know.

You're right, She admitted, And I'll tell them someday. But I think now wouldn't be the best time.

"You really fought on the front lines?" Ovota asked, looking at Ahsoka with admiration, and shock, but something else, as well. It was almost like adoration. Anakin wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Ahsoka gave Ovota a look. Please stop talking, he could almost hear her say.

"Ahsoka, can we talk to you for a second?" Sulo asked, making it clear that it was not a question at all. He and Coraa led a guilty-looking Ahsoka into the hallway and out of sight. Anakin was more than a little displeased to be left with Ovota, who was staring at the spot where the three had disappeared. He looked completely star struck. Anakin wasn't sure if it was for Ahsoka or him. Maybe both.

"She's so amazing," Ovota said, gazing at the empty doorway. Then, he seemed to remember that Anakin was there, giving him a nervous glance. "Please don't tell her I said that."

For some reason, Anakin didn't like the thought of Ovota finding Ahsoka 'amazing'. Obviously, she was, but that wasn't the point. When Ahsoka had liked Lux, Anakin hadn't minded. But that was because Lux hadn't shown her very much interest in return. Ovota, on the other hand, was the polar opposite. He seemed downright obsessive.

However, Anakin knew that he was overprotective, and it would be unfair of him to hate Ovota just for having a crush on Ahsoka. After all, he had obsessed over Padme for 10 years without even speaking to her.

"I won't, Anakin promised. The room fell into a horrible, awkward silence. Anakin shifted his feet uncomfortably, willing Ahsoka to come back.

"So what's it like?" Ovota asked, his curiosity seeming to outweigh his anxiety. "Being a General?"

"It's hard," Anakin admitted. "You have to make difficult decisions, and you have to watch your friends get hurt or killed because of them."

Ovota looked crestfallen. "Oh."

"But there's nothing like the feeling of leading your men to victory," Anakin continued. As much as Ovota seemed to have an unrealistic ideology of war, Anakin didn't want to crush the kid's dreams.

"Really?" Ovota asked, bouncing a little in his chair. "That's so amazing. I want to be a General so bad."

"Hopefully you won't have to be," Anakin said, relief washing over him as Ahsoka and her parents walked back into the room.

Ovota grinned at Anakin, looking into his eyes as the others took their seats and kept eating. Anakin broke the stare, looking at the table. There was something about that grin that made Anakin feel weird, but he couldn't place it. It was just… odd.

I convinced them that I was totally safe, Ahsoka informed him.

Alright, Anakin said, happy to push any thoughts of Ovota to the back of his mind. Just promise me you'll tell them soon.

I will, she promised.

Anakin took a few more mouthfuls of food, his plate now almost empty.

"What do you two do for work?" He asked Ahsoka's parents awkwardly. Anything to break the silence.

"I work downtown," Sulo said, still looking a little wary of Anakin. "In accounting." Anakin didn't blame him, especially considering the fact that he had taken Sulo's teenage daughter to War.

"I work part-time at the market over there," Coraa gestured east. Anakin nodded, finishing his plate.

"Anakin," Ahsoka said. "Do you want to go duel now?"

"Sure," He replied.

"Can I watch?" Ovota asked eagerly.

"I don't see why not," Ahsoka smiled at him. I do! Anakin wanted to say.

Ugh, His thoughts were interrupted by Ahsoka. I'm so glad that's finally over. Why on earth did I think that was a good idea?

Anakin grinned at her as the two of them brought their plates to the sink. Good question, Snips, He wanted to say. The words were on the tip of his tongue. Why couldn't he say them?

Good question, Ahsoka. He replied instead, following her out of the kitchen.

Anakin jumped to his feet, steadying his breathing as he blocked Ahsoka's blow. The metal rod felt unfamiliar in his hands, and the sand under his feet only added to the discomfort. They were fighting in Ahsoka's backyard, their battle only illuminated by the porch lights. Ovota would let out little gasps every now and then, While Sulo and Coraa watched in silent awe.

Anakin parried her blade over his head before moving the rod quickly to block an attack from her second saber. He noticed that, instead of having a lightsaber and a shotosaber as she had before, Ahsoka now fought with two full-length sabers. She had integrated the change into her fighting style very well, and Anakin found himself struggling.

Ahsoka flipped over his head and swiped at his legs but Anakin blocked the blow with ease, aiming a few strokes at Ahsoka's torso. It occurred to Anakin that actually hitting each other with these rods would be very painful, but they had both survived worse. Not that Ahsoka's parents needed to know that, however.

Anakin twisted one of Ahsoka's rods out of her hand with his own and it went flying, burying itself in the sand. Without her second saber, Ahsoka defaulted to a backhand grip. Anakin grinned, attacking her left side. The backhand grip was powerful when she had two sabers, but with one it left her vulnerable. No matter how many times he told her this, however, she still insisted that it felt right to use a backhand.

Ahsoka darted to the right, dodging a blow from Anakin. However, he was ready for her and swung at her full force. She blocked it, but since she was in motion and wasn't in the proper stance, the impact knocked her to the ground. Anakin aimed his saber at Ahsoka's face, grinning down at her.

"Looks like I win, after all." he pulled back the metal rod, reaching a hand out to her.

"Fine," She conceded, taking his hand and allowing him to help her up. "You win this round. But next time I'm going to knock you on your ass."

Anakin flicked her Montral in response, doing his best to brush the sand off of his robes.

"Ow," Ahsoka protested.

"That was so awesome!" Ovota exclaimed from the porch, which was now quite far away. jumping up and down in excitement.

Ahsoka chuckled, throwing a thumbs up in his direction.

"What's his deal?" Anakin asked under his breath.

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know," Anakin said, his voice low. "Something about him just bothers me."

Ahsoka sighed. "You're just being protective again because he likes me."

"Oh, you know?" He asked.

Ahsoka looked at him incredulously. "Of course I know, Anakin, I'm not stupid."

"Oh, ok," Anakin said, ignoring Ahsoka's exasperated look. "But it's not that; there's something about him that just rubs me the wrong way."

"Just give him a chance, ok? He's really nice when you get to know him."

Anakin looked at her suspiciously. "Don't tell me you like him back!"

"No!" Ahsoka said, glancing at the others and lowering her voice. "I don't like him like that."

"Ok," Anakin said, giving Ahsoka a look. "But if he tries anything-"

"Force, Anakin," Ahsoka gave him a look that was so Obi-Wan that it was startling. "Stop being so overprotective. I can take care of myself."

"I know, I know," Anakin conceded.

"Give Ovota a chance, ok?" Ahsoka had clearly inherited her father's ability to ask a question while making it absolutely clear that you had no choice in the matter.

"Fine, I will," Anakin said, the two of them walking back to where the others were standing.

"That was so cool!" Ovota repeated when they reached the porch. "Will you teach me how?" He asked Ahsoka.

"Sure, I can teach you the basics," She responded. Anakin had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I should probably be going now. Obi-Wan will be waiting for me," Anakin said, more than happy to interrupt whatever the kriff was happening between the two teenagers.

"Oh, ok," Ahsoka said. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Anakin nodded, turning to Coraa and Sulo. "Thank you for having me, It's great to meet you both."

"Likewise," Coraa said, offering another one of her warm smiles.

"Bye, Anakin!" Ovota said, once again giving him that awkward grin.

"Bye," Anakin said, his eyes lingering on Ahsoka before turning and walking around the hut and heading towards the capitol building. He tapped on his comlink, calling Obi-Wan's channel.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan answered, sounding relieved. "I was beginning to think you had forgotten."

"That was really weird," Anakin sighed, looking up at the sky, trying to recognize the stars that were made faint by the lights of the city.

"I'm sure," Obi-Wan replied. "How is Ahsoka?"

"She's doing well. She's with her parents, but you probably already figured that out."

"Indeed," Obi-wan said. Anakin could hear a teapot start to whistle in the background. "I expect you'll fill me in when you get back?"

"Of course, master," Anakin smiled. "What's going on with Saan?"

"Nothing much, at the moment. She was disappointed that we didn't find anything, but not surprised."

"Makes sense," Anakin said, turning the corner onto one of the main roads.

"She would like us to try again tomorrow If we would be willing."

Anakin sighed. "It's not like we have anything better to do," He said. "I just hope we actually find something."

"Me too," Obi-Wan said. Anakin could picture him stroking his beard. "This is quite the situation."

"We've faced far worse," Anakin grinned. "This is no different from the rest."

"Of course," Obi-Wan said humorously. Anakin looked up at the Capitol building where Obi-Wan was probably standing, tea in hand. He thought about Ahsoka, laughing and joking around with Ovota as Obi-Wan's voice sounded through the comlink. "Let's keep it that way."

I'm sorry, I feel like this chapter is really shitty, lol. I promise the next one will be better!