AN: Hello my Dear Readers! I'm back! Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to be having wrist surgery in a few weeks which is really going to set back my ability to crank out any writing. It's really bumming me out because I have so many things I want to work on! Please be patient as chapters are going to probably going to be slower in coming! This chapter is a collection of requests and also a parallel so if you see your request or the parallel, review and let me know!
Ahsoka and Anakin were finally being granted two weeks for rest and a meditative retreat to recoup after the end of the war. It had been nearly two years since they had been able to take such a long break for a retreat. The 501st were also taking advantage of the break and milling about Coruscant or catching up with hobbies and sleep. Since the Jedi Council was lenient on where they could go for the meditative retreat, Anakin had suggested they travel to the green and blue planet of Naboo. Ahsoka readily agreed, knowing it was Anakin's excuse to see Padme, but also eager to spend time on the beautiful planet outside of battles and war. Anakin also arranged that Rex be their pilot so each Jedi would have time to spend with their significant other. Both Jedi spent their mornings meditating or quiet contemplation and the afternoons and evenings around the city and various landscapes the planet had to offer. Rex would hang out with the Naboo guard and some of their projects while the two Jedi spent their mornings in quiet.
One of these days Ahsoka suggested to Rex that they take a picnic lunch and go hiking through some of the meadows and hills known for their wildflowers and cool springs. Rex readily agreed and the two took a packed picnic lunch and a speeder out to the fields. It was a perfectly sunny day and the wildflowers were in full bloom which made the atmosphere of the picnic picture perfect. They enjoyed a full lunch and desert on the blanket they brought and afterward Rex brought out the newest project that the Naboo guard had been working on. All clone troopers went through training with various booster packs and jet packs which had been Rex's area of expertise. The Naboo guard had reinvented a system combining boot rockets and a jet pack for ultimate maneuverability and function and Rex was given the opportunity to try them out in the fields where they're were plenty of open places. After lunch, Ahsoka helped Rex strap on the boosters and pack and connect the two lines from each boot rocket to the jet pack. After a few unsteady moments priming and taking off, Rex seemed to have a steady control over the whole contraption and steadily increased speed and difficulty in maneuvers while Ahsoka recorded it on her holo-recorder to show the guard. When Rex tried a complicated flip mid air that required him to shut off the rockets and jet pack at specific moments, he miss guessed the exact timing and went tumbling down one of the hills. Ahsoka busted out laughing and went sliding down the hill after him where he was dusting himself off and checking the equipment.
"I really hope you delete that part of the video." Rex huffed good naturedly when Ahsoka reached him
"Nah, I think I'm going to keep it just for future laughs!" Ahsoka crossed her arms
Rex lunged at her jokingly trying to reach for her wrist where she held her holo-recorder; Ahsoka shrieked and pulled away before he could grab her. The two played chase until they both fell down out of breath from laughing so hard.
While they were lying there Rex playfully grabbed her wrist. "Just promise you WON'T show the rest of Torrent." Rex asked
"I'll only show it to Commander Cody." Ahsoka teased
The couple stayed out trying the jet pack and boosters for a few more hours before returning to the picnic site to relax a while longer. Ahsoka collected flowers and had jokingly made a pair of matching flower crowns and forced Rex to wear his and take a picture with her and this time she did promise it was just a picture for her to enjoy.
When the sun started to set, painting the fields in golden colors, the couple decided to pack up the picnic site and head back to base. While they were loading the gear onto the speeder Ahsoka stopped and stared off into the horizon.
"What's the matter, Ahsoka?" Rex followed her gaze and didn't see anything out of the ordinary
"I feel something." She murmured distractedly
"Like the Force?"
"No" Ahsoka tapped the side of her montrals "Vibrations. They're coming this way and getting stronger."
She turned back around "I can't tell what it is but it's a bunch of somethings and we should head out just to be safe."
Rex nodded in agreement, not one to disagree with her senses.
Right as Rex was taking off the jet pack and boosters, he felt the vibrations under his feet and at the crest of the hill behind them he saw a pack of rancors headed straight for them. Without thinking Rex grabbed Ahsoka and pulled her onto the speeder with him and took off. Unfortunately the speeder wasn't fast enough to outrun all of the heard and one rancor clipped the back of the speeder and Ahsoka tumbled out of Rex's grasp and rolled towards the middle of the herd. Rex pulled the speeder sharply to the side and jumped off. Without a moment's hesitation he gunned the boosters and jet pack and swooped into the thundering herd. Ahsoka was already back on her feet and dodging the beasts when Rex swooped down and grabbed her under her arms with one arm while he tried to navigate the jet pack and boosters with the other. He kept them both in the air for a solid minute before the contraption started sputtering and they lost altitude quickly and descended into the fields. Rex wrapped his body protectively around Ahsoka as they tumbled and rolled down the hills.
When the two bodies came to a stop, Rex still had Ahsoka wrapped tightly against his chest and both were breathing heavily from the adrenaline. With a nudge, Ahsoka flipped her body over so the two were face to face.
"Now that would have been a sight to catch on video and show everyone." She smirked
Rex gave a short laugh "Not a bad save if I do say so myself."
"I think it was a little bit better than 'not bad', Rexster. I hardly have a scratch on me." Ahsoka wiggled her fingers in his face to prove it.
"I would hate it if you had any scratches or bruises from my epic rescue" He scoffed lightly
Ahsoka gently pressed her lips against Rex's and he responded equally.
"If this is my reward for epic saves, I should do this more often. Maybe during an intense battle or something so everyone can see it." He laughed when they parted from their kiss
"You do that." Ahsoka kissed him again and then rolled off of him so they could both sit up.
"Let's go find our speeder and head back before someone comes looking for us rolling around in the middle of a field." Ahsoka stood up and reached her hand down to help Rex up. He took the proffered hand and used it to pull himself up and check the gear on his back. On the way back he interlaced their hands and held it tightly; Ahsoka squeezed his fingers back.
On the way back, Ahsoka rested her head against Rex's strong back and started to doze.
"I love you, Rexster. Thanks for always being there to save me." She thought as the gentle motion of the speeder lulled her.
Unbeknownst to her, Ahsoka had mumbled her thought and not just thought it; Rex heard every word.
He glanced back at his sleepy passenger and grinned at her. "I love you too Cyar'ika. I'll always be there to catch you."
When the two returned to their chambers, Rex commed the captain of the guard and Cody to ask them favors and then headed out to the city. He stood in front of a small store and took a deep breath before stepping inside.
"Hello, welcome to Naboo's Family Jewelers, how can we help you?"
AN: And there's a nice little cliff hanger for you guys! I hope you guys like it! Please review and let me know what you think and where you think I'm started to hint at heading!