And a little more teenage drama *snicker* apparently the Muse thinks it's amusing... possibly 1 maybe 2 parts after this... yay, almost done!

Three Days Later

"And you're sure they weren't able to follow or track you?"

Obi-Wan crossed his arms over his chest and stroked his chin and beard with one hand. "Nothing is for certain, Anakin, but the speeders we used were all identical and we split in three different directions. I took down the one following Moté and Lux; Cody and Fives took out the one following them and Ahsoka and Rex weren't followed at all. They only sent the two."

"A probe?"

"Possibly. However, neither of the pilots was alive to tell the tale and we weren't followed further. Varykino appears to be everything you said it was. Safe; secure; remote. Tracking incoming vessels will be difficult if they choose to come in over the lakes or swamps, but anything tree level or higher will be easy to spot."

Anakin's shoulders relaxed.

Padmé's parents had insisted they stay for another night and neither of them had slept well in the nights they'd been away. Obi-Wan had contacted him briefly that first night to inform him of the attempt at following them from the landing pad, but not gone into detail except to say they'd been unsuccessful.

Anakin had only now received the full story; it explained the uneasy feeling he'd received their first night in Theed. "What's been done to boost security?"

"Precious little, actually," Obi-Wan leaned against the balcony rail of Padmé and Anakin's room where Padmé was fussing over the twins; she hadn't let them out of her sight since her return. She'd already fed them but Anakin hadn't wanted to be far from them, or her, while speaking with Obi-Wan and the other Jedi had accommodated him. "Moté provided us with the security schematics upon our arrival and the system is already impressive. Even the lake is layered with sensors to ensure no uninvited guests."

"When we were able to get away together, we never did like being disturbed," Padmé added from inside the room, cradling both twins close as she lay on the bed. "The pressure sensors were Anakin's idea the first time we were here, Obi-Wan; they were installed just before we were married."

"An excellent precaution; leaves the rest of us kind of redundant, though. The clones were likely unnecessary."

"Maybe," he agreed, flashing his old mentor a grin before moving back inside to scoop Leia from her mother's arms and cuddle her. He smiled at his daughter before stroking a thumb over her cheek. "But I feel better with them around. All the warning in the world isn't going to save us if Grievous comes in at battalion strength from all sides."

"Three clones, no matter how skilled, won't either."

"No, but it'll give us a fighting chance since they all came fully armed and equipped. If we can shield them, should it come to that, the droid poppers and explosives we're packing should decimate a force of that size."

"Not to mention the three of us?"

"Exactly."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "And if it's just commando droids in an infiltration mission?"

Anakin paused from playing with Leia's stomach, a gentle tickle that was making her giggle, and shot a look at his wife that made her raise her eyebrows before turning back to their son. "It won't be. Whoever it is that wants the twins, wants them free and clear. They apparently tried to assassinate Padmé when they came for them last."

"So that's what the Council meant." Stroking his beard thoughtfully, Obi-Wan looked from Anakin to Padmé and back. "Which means you're likely a target now too, Anakin."

"Unless I'm the reason they tried to capture them in the first place," there was an uncomfortable note in Anakin's tone as he voiced his suspicion. "The prophecy of the 'Chosen One' isn't known only to the Jedi and it wouldn't be the first time someone's come after me for it."

"Hmm, yes; you're right. But until we know who is behind the attempts, we can't really speculate on the why. For now I suggest we simply stick with the security plan Moté outlined until we discover something that needs to be adjusted. Now, if you'll excuse me, Fives and I were going to head out to the far end of the complex."

"The vineyard?"

Anakin chuckled as Obi-Wan looked at Padmé surprised. "She knows every inch of this place, Master. Better than anyone, even her parents I'd be willing to wager."

"Yes, the vineyard. They're the only tenants I've not yet seen to 'convince' to stay away."

"Ah. Don't let us keep you."

"My Lady?"

Moté's entrance distracted Anakin and Padmé, giving Obi-Wan a chance to slip away.

"What is it, Moté?"

"It's time for their nap," she offered apologetically. "Unless you don't think-"

Padmé was already shaking her head. "We've missed them, but I wouldn't interrupt their routine for anything," she assured her handmaiden. "We'd be lost without you Moté."

"Or not sleeping at all," Anakin added dryly as he brushed his lips across Leia's temple and then took the few steps that brought him to the twins' crib. He laid her gently down as Padmé brought Luke to do the same. As his wife placed their son beside their daughter, he reached out to gently stroke a yawning Luke's face. Together, they always settled faster; it was but one small tidbit Padmé had shared on their journey here fretting about them.

Moté was already settling into a nearby chair, preparing to stand guard while the children slept.

"I can-"

"Padmé; let Moté do her job."

"But-"

"Yes, my Lady. You'll need your strength for when they wake. Go and relax; I won't let anything happen to them."

Padmé was reluctantly steered out of the room by Anakin and then down stairs. Once they arrived on the main level, Padmé excused herself to find Lux, who had been rather reserved but sad looking when they'd arrived. It made sense; most of his new companions were clones and his only real friend was Ahsoka.

Ahsoka who was a young woman and a Padawan learner and more than a little miffed at Lux right now.

Instead, Anakin headed outside to look up the walls from the veranda where he and Padmé had shared their first kiss oh so long ago and see if he could spot any weaknesses he'd need to shore up. His gaze was on the climbing vines, his steps unconsciously following the flag stones as he judged the vertical climb with a frown. It wouldn't take much to scale; he'd have to-

"How old are you anyway, Rex?"

A familiar voice brought him up short as he was about to step out; some bodyguard he was, not noticing the two in the shade of the trees across the way. Keeping to the shadows, for neither the clone at the rail nor the young Togrutan woman who was his Padawan had yet noted his presence, he grinned at Rex's confused response.

"Sir?'

Anakin could almost hear Ahsoka rolling her eyes. By some weird coincidence Ahsoka was in the same place Anakin had once been when he'd gotten the courage to kiss Padmé, Rex standing next to her almost as close as Padmé had been to him at the time. They were brushing elbows as they leaned against the rail, Rex for once not in his full armor, though he did have both DL-17s strapped to his hips. Oddly enough, they matched the dual sabers on Ahsoka's and, idle though the thought was, they complimented each other; mirror images of preparedness.

"Ahsoka, Rex; we're not technically on duty here."

"We're always on duty, Commander." was the predictable reply, though Rex sounded amused rather than irritated. "Why else would you still be wearing your lightsabers?"

"Because Master Skywalker would kill me if I lost them?" she offered playfully. "Why are you wearing your blasters?"

"We're guarding General Skywalker's wife and children; it would be wrong to be without them."

"Even in this beautiful environment?" Ahsoka sighed, staring out across the water. "Isn't it gorgeous?"

"Perhaps because of the environment," Rex hedged.

"Oh?"

"It's easy to let your guard down here," he elaborated, bracing his forearms on the balustrade in a more comfortable position. It pressed the length of his arm against hers. "We can't afford to; even beauty can hide dangers we can't see or, in your case, sense. If we want to be effective in our duties, we can't let our guard down at all."

"Duty and more duty; that shouldn't surprise me. You never want to have any fun."

"I think our versions of fun are pretty similar, Commander," he returned, tongue in cheek. "You like giving it to the tinnies as much as I do."

His comment made her laugh before she slanted him a look. "Don't think I've forgotten my original question, Rex or not noticed you're avoiding it."

"How old do you think I am, kid?"

"Well..." Ahsoka's posture changed and she leaned forward on the railing and over as she gave it some thought. One of her feet floated free of the ground, the other barely touching by the tips of her toes. "Lemme see; you fought in the first battle of Geonosis when Masters Skywalker and Kenobi were going to be executed in the arena, right?"

"Right."

"So that puts you as a part of the first series of clones; the ones who had the most time to train." She slanted him a wicked grin. "That must be why you're so much like your... father."

Rex blinked; Anakin saw it as he turned to look at Ahsoka, his brows drawn together. "Respectfully, sir-"

"No no," Ahsoka shook her head, cutting off what Rex was about to say. "Jango Fett was your father for all intense and purposes. His cells gave you life."

"There's something a little skewed in your logic, Commander; it would imply I have a mother."

"The Kaminoans; which makes you some creepy bastard child," her grin was cheeky before she looked back out across the lake, Rex coughing to hide a laugh, obviously amused by her point of view on the subject. "Whatever you call him, you'd been training for ten years and the original invasion of Geonosis was," she had to think about it for a second, "six years ago, I think. So that would make you sixteen." Her grin when she looked back at him was cheeky. "Or almost sixteen, since it's not yet a full six years; I'm older than you."

Rex, still watching her, arched his eyebrows and Anakin had to smother a laugh; he could see where this was going.

"So if I'm older than you," Ahsoka followed her thought through but Anakin could see her eyes dancing, "that would imply I'm more experienced, wouldn't it?"

"By a year or so, Commander," Rex agreed, "but clones age at an accelerated rate for a reason. Age has never been a good indicator of experience. With all we've been through, I'll make an exception in your case."

"Why Rex, are you complimenting me?"

"Just stating the truth, sir."

"Ah," she sighed dramatically, obviously enjoying teasing the clone. "Careful, Captain, you'll turn my head with all that fancy talk."

"Since you became General Skywalker's Padawan, you've turned into a half decent Commander."

Again, Anakin could almost hear her eyes roll; Rex's words had held a teasing note, as if he weren't quite serious. "Thanks to your expert tactical teachings whenever he pawned me off on you, right?"

"Undoubtedly, sir."

"Ugh," she made a face. "What's it going to take to get you to call me by name, anyway?"

Rex's laugh was unexpected and Anakin caught his smile in profile as he grinned down at the Togrutan female. "Nothing less than permission by General Skywalker himself, Commander," his tone remained teasing, but firm.

"Then it's given."

Ahsoka and Rex jerked as Anakin stepped out on the veranda, stepping away from each other as if they'd been caught doing something illicit. Their postures had indicated a certain intimacy, but it was nothing compared to what Anakin and Padmé had done in the same position during their stay at the villa.

"Master! You're here!"

"General, sir!"

"At ease, Rex; unless we're under attack, this is technically down time for you. Ahsoka's given leave for you to call her by name and I've no objection. Think of it as a compliment. A... gesture of her friendship."

"Yeah, Rexster," she teased, recovering from Anakin's sudden appearance as she poked the clone in the chest. "I can call you by name; it's only fair."

"Are you sure, sir?"

"Protocol is all well and good, Captain," Anakin assured him, "but sometimes it can be taken too far."

"Yes, sir."

"Very good." he wandered over, looking across the lake, remembering the last time he and Padmé had been there together; the day they'd taken their vows. "A lovely view, isn't it?"

"How'd you find this place, Skyguy?"

"It's the Naberrie family retreat, Snips."

"You keep saying that like it's supposed to mean something."

Anakin glanced her way and then realized what she meant. He laughed and shook his head. "Sorry; Naberrie is Padmé's family name."

"Then why does everyone call her Padmé Amidala?"

"Protocol," Anakin slanted a look at Rex and the men shared a wry grin. "She was known as Queen Amidala when she was the ruler of Naboo and maintained that name into public service. It keeps the rest of her family from the public eye."

"Speaking of your wife, sir, where's your shadow?"

"Working with Mister Bonteri on his blaster skills. We checked on the twins before we came down and Lux looked at loose ends so Padmé took pity on him."

Ahsoka and Rex exchanged looks.

"What?"

"Is that wise, sir? He doesn't appear very fond of us clones and I don't think it has much to do with being an ex-Separatist; he's too young to have been in any kind of battle."

"No, but not all of the Separatist forces were droids," Anakin admitted. "I'm sure there was someone he knew-"

"His father," Ahsoka remembered with a sudden flinch and an apologetic glance Rex's way. "He was killed by clones while setting up an outpost in the mid-rim. Sorry, Rex; I'd forgotten that until Anakin mentioned it."

"Then we'll just keep him away from you, Fives and Cody as much as possible."

"Providing he doesn't try and take one, or all of us, out with his new skills, sir."

"Don't worry, Rex, I'll protect you." Ahsoka's promise was teasing, making both the clone and the other Jedi smile. "Besides, Lux is still trying to get on my good side and that's not going to happen if he can't accept my friends."

"Just don't encourage him too much," Anakin admonished. "Last time you did something rash you ended up as his betrothed."

Rex blinked and then arched his eyebrows at Ahsoka in an almost comical exaggeration of skepticism. "Betrothed? You?"

"I said something I shouldn't have. It's a long story; I'll tell you later." She shot Anakin a dark look that promised retribution. "Don't worry Master, I've read up thoroughly on Onderon's traditions and those from Raxus. I'm still working on sorting through the one I caused, but I think I should be able to avoid any more entanglements."

"Glad to hear it, Snips. It wouldn't do for you to follow too closely in my footsteps."

Ahsoka grinned. "No promises, Master."

"Keep an eye on her, Rex. Call if you run into trouble."

"Where will you be, Skyguy?"

"Around," he tossed back over his shoulder with a grin of his own. "Checking the physical security while you guys bask in the sun; you know, doing your job."

"Would you like a hand, sir?"

"Not right now, Rex; but thanks."

He nodded as Anakin made to turn away, the clone's voice suddenly amused. "Betrothed?"

"Ugh," was Ahsoka's response. "Okay, so it's like this..."

Chuckling to himself as Ahsoka turned back to the rail and he passed beyond the corner of the house, Anakin shook his head. Much as he wanted to be an observer on the wall for that conversation, for Rex's reaction would have been entertaining, he had other duties to perform while Moté guarded his children and Padmé tried to give Lux blaster instruction.

Still, later, when Ahsoka wasn't around, he was certain the Clone Captain would have questions for him and he was looking forward to the discussion. Lux was, if nothing else, providing a surprisingly amount of amusement for Anakin, almost enough, he reflected, to change his view on the young man's attitude.

Almost.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You what?"

"I got rid of it years ago, Ani," Padmé admonished him at his dismay. "Besides; it wouldn't fit now anyway."

"What a waste," he tucked his arm about her waist, drawing her closer, his expression playful, "I really loved the way you looked in it, all domineering and sexy - even if you were telling me off at the time. I was looking forward to when I could peel it off you."

She laughed softly, lifting herself onto her toes to brush her lips over his. "I should never have worn it," she admitted cheekily. "It gave you too many ideas I shared and couldn't follow through on."

"And now?"

The look she sent him spoke volumes as she slid from his embrace and sashayed towards the stairs. "Join me upstairs in thirty minutes and find out."

"Oh," he assured her with a calculate leer that made her laugh, breaking her sultry expression and sending her darting up the stairs. "I intend to."

Shaking his head as his wife disappeared, Anakin detoured into the kitchenette and poured himself a glass of juice before heading for the lounge. For the second time that day, he found himself brought up short by his Padawan's voice; except, unlike with Rex, she now sounded exasperated.

"Why are you being so stubborn about this anyway?"

Anakin paused, frowning, and suspected he knew to whom she was speaking only to have it confirmed a moment later when Lux Bonteri's clipped, accented words drifted to him.

"And why are you so against it? Were you not the one who wanted me to come with you to Coruscant for amnesty? Were you not the one who pleaded so prettily for me to stay with you so we could work things out together?"

"Of course but... Lux we're not betrothed!"

"By your own declaration, we are," he sounded surprisingly calm to Ahsoka's irritation, "and by my agreement it's official. The betrothal would stand up on any world in a court of law; Separatist or Republic."

Anakin eased forward into the shadows and peaked into the lounge to find Lux seated on the sofa with his blaster in pieces on the table - cleaning it? - and Ahsoka pacing before the fire with her hands linked behind her back.

"I've looked up Onderon's laws about the spoken betrothal rights; they're ancient. Just because you can use them doesn't mean you have to. Why are you so adamant about following them?"

"Tradition," was the boy's still calm reply, almost solemn. "It's all I have left of my family, Ahsoka. The only way I can honor them. Surely you understand."

"I do, I get it; but I don't want this, Lux."

The boy looked up at her assertion. "Then why kiss me back?"

"I don't know!" Ahsoka turned on him with a sigh. "You caught me by surprise; it wasn't like I was expecting you to kiss me, I just reacted."

"Reactions are often honest when one doesn't think about them," Lux offered logically. "If you kissed me back it was because a part of you wants me; a part of you wants this."

"I don't," she told him bluntly. "I'd never been kissed; how else was I going to react?"

"Push me away?"

"And get us both killed?" She narrowed her gaze on him. "I did push you away at the end, if you remember."

Lux regarded her critically, from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, unbeknownst to Anakin, an echo of the first time Ahsoka'd been alone with him. His next question was hard, almost accusing and made Ahsoka's eyes widen as much from the tone as the content.

"Is there someone else?"

"Right; I've been fighting in the middle of a war, Lux, who else could there possibly be?"

"Your precious Captain Rex, perhaps?"

Anakin almost choked on the sip of his drink; Ahsoka and Rex? He managed not to cough and his lips twitched despite the serious nature of the discussion between the teenagers. It was like him and Padmé once again in reverse, except Ahsoka seemed to be paralleling his actions with the two different men and different results. Unlike him, she had no desire to attract anyone and considered neither more than a friend. She didn't, as far as he could tell, treat either one differently than the other.

Oblivious to her Master's presence and amused incredulity, she slammed her hands on her hips as Lux turned back to the blaster.

"What? No! There's no one else. Not Rex, or Cody or Master Kenobi - there's no one; I'm going to be a Jedi. Do you have any idea what that means?"

"Not the way you think I should."

Ahsoka used a calming technique and Anakin grinned, easing further into the shadows. He felt a little bad for eavesdropping, but he didn't dare cut in just yet; Ahsoka needed to hash this out with Lux and Anakin would feel better once the junior Senator gave up.

"Because you think all Jedi are evil."

"No." Lux was surprisingly calm sounding and Anakin bet he was excellent in a debate; must be a senatorial thing. "It's because I don't know much about them other than conjecture and rumor spread by those who don't trust them. Explain it to me, Ahsoka; elaborate."

"Why?"

"You've researched my home world's laws and traditions and I've looked up the Togrutan's. You know the Senatorial standards to which I was raised, is it not fair that I should understand the ones that shaped you? Perhaps within this... code of yours there is something that might convince me of your dedication and insistence you remain alone when it is obvious that not all Jedi are."

"The Jedi code is a strict code of conduct," she informed him evenly, obviously reluctant but unable to refute his logic, "which defines what a Jedi can and can't do. My-"

"Can you give me specifics?"

She made a face. "They don't make a lot of sense to non-Jedi."

"Humor me."

Considering him, Ahsoka cocked her head to the side as if trying to judge if he was sincere. Finally, seeming to believe him she recited the tenets of the Jedi code; the one all younglings learned in the crèche before becoming Padawans. Anakin hadn't had the training but that hadn't stopped Obi-Wan from making him learn it like a mantra.

"Without the benefit of the Council library and a month to coach you on it, I doubt I could do it justice," Ahsoka admitted as conviction entered her tone. "But there are rules within the code that we all follow. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death, there is the Force." She paused almost reverently; it was obvious to Anakin, and likely Lux as well, that she meant every word she uttered. She believed what she was saying.

"There is nothing in those tenets about attachment."

"No, but within the code itself, it's made plain that we must all conquer external loyalties," she told him with a quirk to her lips. "My Master would tell you that everything is open to interpretation, but there are a few things that are black and white. This is one of them; it clearly states that Jedi are not to have attachments and that we're to be loyal first and foremost to the Force, then the Jedi Council and then the Republic and finally ourselves which leaves no room for a family - not that this mission is helping with that image any."

"Exactly. Your Master has a wife; I don't see the issue with you being mine."

"We're friends Lux; I don't want to be your wife."

"Not today-"

"Not ever!" her tone was exasperated. "I want to be a Jedi Knight and, some day Force willing, a Jedi Master. I want to be a keeper of the peace; a negotiator and, when necessary, a warrior."

"There's no reason-"

"There's every reason. Do you honestly think I could be a Jedi and your wife and still be effective? This is my dream, Lux and, I'm sorry, but I won't sacrifice it for you."

"I would never ask you to give it up, Ahsoka; I see what being a Jedi means to you."

"But you don't understand it," she accused softly.

"How could I?" There was a rustle of fabric as he shrugged. "Master Skywalker and his wife are a special case, we could be to."

"I won't ask the council for a special dispensation."

"Why not?"

"Because you refuse to listen to what I'm saying; you refuse to accept that I know my mind. You refused to accept the fact that I do not want to marry you!"

"Then we are at an impasse."

Ahsoka took an obvious deep, calming breath before answering him levelly. "I don't see how; betrothed or not, I won't go through with a marriage ceremony."

Lux frowned and leaned back in the sofa, disappearing from Anakin's view. Ahsoka resumed her pacing, glancing at the boy from time to time, and Anakin could see her hope that she'd finally gotten through to him. He hoped so, too.

Lux's next words, however, were less than encouraging. "Be that as it may, Ahsoka, I have no desire to release you from our contract."

"You'd keep me chained to you because of a whim?"

"I would hate to have squandered the opportunity when you some day change your mind."

"Ugh!" she threw up her hands, exasperation bordering on real irritation. "What do I have to say to get this through to you? I am not going to change my mind. Ever."

"You cannot know that."

"I know what I want and this isn't it, Lux. We have no contract. I am not your betrothed. I am nothing but your friend - and right now I'm rethinking even that!"

"If you're to follow the path that you say, where's the harm in leaving it in place until we reach our majority?" he asked, his question curious. "Normally a betrothal is dissolved only then... unless of course one member becomes otherwise attached and can't honor the contract."

From the way Ahsoka went still, Anakin suspected it was the first she'd heard of it; he knew he hadn't and he'd been spending what few spare moments he had trying to find information to help her break away from the Bonteri boy. Even Padmé hadn't been able to dig up that tidbit when he'd confided the situation to her.

"Does it have to be a person or would a commitment to an order like the Jedi be enough?"

"A person."

She appeared to think about it and then shook her head. "This is where that obscure right of challenge comes in, isn't it?"

Anakin couldn't see Lux's reaction, but he must have nodded because Ahsoka cursed.

"While the woman has the power to initiate a contact," Lux explained, "only the man may willingly break or dissolve it. This way, the power in the relationship is equal."

"Then break it already; you know I don't want this."

"I'm hoping I can change your mind."

"Don't count on it." There was a rustle of clothing as Lux pushed himself off the sofa and stepped towards Ahsoka. She lifted both hands, warding him off. "Stop right there, buster," she told him firmly. "Come any closer and I'll Force push your butt back into that seat so fast your head will spin."

Anakin decided he'd seen enough when Lux looked as if he wasn't going to listen. "I'd stop while I was ahead if I were you, kid," he told Lux with a look as he stepped into the lounge.

"You have such timing Skyguy."

"Ahsoka's made up her mind. If she doesn't want you now, that's not likely to change."

"This was a private discussion, Master Jedi," Lux informed him stiffly, his face a polite mask.

Anakin could sense his turmoil and frustration. He recognized the emotions as ones he'd once felt in the boy's place but refused to acknowledge it.

This had gone on long enough.

"With my Padawan?" Anakin crossed his arms over his chest. "I suggest you find you bed, Mister Bonteri, and sleep on what Ahsoka's told you. For someone who claims to be her friend, you're certainly not willing to go the extra mile to help her."

Lux flinched, collected the blaster pieces and turned to go. He paused in the entry way, manners preventing him from leaving without a word, and turned to bow gracefully to them; it was shallow but polite. "Master Jedi; Padawan Tano. Good night."

Ahsoka let out a breath as he disappeared and turned, flopping back into the only arm chair in the room, her legs splayed before her. "Well that was productive," she slanted Anakin a look. "Are you enjoying eavesdropping on me today, Master, or is it just my lucky day?"

"Unintentional, I assure you; you keep hanging out in my favorite places," he grinned. It faded quickly. "How're you holding up, Snips?"

"I'm all right," she assured him, tilting her head back against the chair's edge. "Lux just doesn't get it and it's frustrating."

"So I heard. Anything I can do to help? I could have Padmé speak with him."

"It's my problem, Master, I'll handle it; but thanks for the suggestion. If worse come to worse, I'll have Rex stun him."

"I'm sure he'd enjoy that."

"Probably too much with Lux's obvious disdain for them" She pushed herself back to her feet and tilted her chin determinedly. "Joking aside, I think the best that can be said about this whole situation is that he can't force me. I might not be able to convince him to break the betrothal but at least it can be dissolved when I refuse to speak the vows at the allotted time."

"Uh," Anakin rubbed the back of his neck. "I hate to break it to you, Snips, but he can force the issue if you're not careful."

She cocked her head at him. "What do you mean?"

"How do you feel about him, Ahsoka?"

"He's my friend."

"Nothing more?"

"He couldn't be; I want to be a Jedi."

"Just because we're Jedi, doesn't mean we don't feel. We do, just differently; you're sure you don't… want him?"

There was a long pause as Ahsoka's brow crinkled before she pinned him with her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Just say what you're trying to say, Master."

"You're seventeen, Ahsoka; I remember being your age not that long ago," he slanted a faint smile her way. "Mister Bonteri isn't exactly thinking with his brain."

"Isn't…" her eyes widened as she caught his meaning and then she burst out laughing. "I don't want him like that, Skyguy! He's my friend.'

"Glad to hear it," Anakin somehow managed to keep his relief to a teasing grin. "So I guess that means you don't think he's cute or something?"

"Oh, he's cute all right," teasing him in return, her smile sly as Anakin seemed to freeze only to take pity on him immediately. "But you'll be reassured to know that cuteness factor has diminished considerably with his stubborn response to this mess."

"That's a relief. Not even tempted, huh?"

She rolled her eyes. "If I promise not to sleep with him, will you let it drop?"

"I'd think about it? Is this the first time you've had to talk about this?"

"About what, sleeping with him?" Laughter was clear in her voice. "He's never brought it up; too much of a gentleman, I suspect."

He shot her look which clearly stated he was not amused. "About getting him to back off, Snips."

"I wish. He's persistent, I'll give him that."

"So was I."

"Except you wanted both and I just want to be a Jedi," she noted dryly. "Don't get me wrong, I like Lux, Master. I really do, and if I was going to leave the Order there might be something there worth exploring... provided he could get over his disdain for clones." A frown crossed her lips. "But I don't think he will."

"He has his reasons."

"Don't tell me you agree with him."

"No," Anakin assured her. "I don't. But just because we don't share his views, doesn't mean they're wrong."

"Is this one of those 'I have to respect his views' arguments?" her question was incredulous. "You heard what he said, the way he's said it! I've seen you with the clones Master, you can't tell me you approve of his attitude."

"You know I don't, but he was a Separatist for a long time, Snips and you said he lost his father to them. I can understand his animosity even if I don't condone it."

"So you'd just sit there and let him insult our friends?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I won't. Rex has put his life on the line time and time again to save mine; what kind of friend would I be if I didn't stand up for him now?"

"Not willing to give up your tender feelings for the Captain, eh?"

"Ugh, you too?"

"Relax, Ahsoka," he told her with a laugh, "I'm just teasing."

"Teasing or not, it's not about romance," she argued pointedly. "Not everyone wants what you have, Master."

"Perhaps not or maybe you just haven't met the right guy yet."

"Or maybe I have and what I want to do is more important than who I want to be with." Her expression turned solemn. "I've given this a lot of thought, Master. No boy is worth giving up the good I can do as a Jedi."

Anakin shook his head. "I'm a little bias on the idea," he admitted ruefully. "Why don't you find Obi-Wan and see if he can give you a better perspective on this. He knows what it is to give up someone he loves for the order."

"Master Kenobi?"

"The girlfriend crack? I thought you said you'd remember?"

"I've been a little preoccupied," she retorted dryly, "But I'll do that; thanks Skyguy."

"Any time, Snips."

He watched her leave before turning towards the viewport, the dark, silent figure who'd been privy to both conversations leaning against one pillar and barely visible from within. "Can I assume by the blaster in hand, Rex, that you were going to step in if I hadn't?"

Said blaster disappeared and Rex stepped forward to plant both hands on the sill, his gaze tracking to the door beyond Anakin where Ahsoka had disappeared to. "You told me to watch out for her, sir," Rex informed him quietly. "I take that duty seriously."

"You always have and I appreciate it; we both do."

"I would have let her handle him first unless he became… insistent." Rex assured him. "But if it's any consolation, sir, it's set for stun."

"Very generous of you since I doubt Bonteri would give you the same courtesy." Anakin crouched to bank the fire and set up the guard before glancing back to the clone Captain who was watching him warily. "Was there something else?"

"Can I ask you a question, General?"

"Anakin, Rex; this isn't a debriefing or planning session."

The shadows played across the clone's features as he obviously struggled to phrase his question and Anakin straightened. Striding to the nearby patio doors, he exited the lounge and stepped out to join Rex on the patio. With an unspoken agreement, they began to walk the perimeter of the building, one eye cast outward for danger.

When Rex finally spoke, Anakin wasn't disappointed. "You've been in Ahsoka's position, sir; do you really think she means it?"

"What, about not succumbing to Lux's advances?"

Rex nodded.

"I think she means it; she's pretty adamant about becoming a Jedi the right way."

"The right way, sir?"

Anakin shot Rex an amused look. "As in, not my way?"

"Ah."

He didn't seem to get it and was too polite to say otherwise, so Anakin elaborated. "I'm hardly a conventional Jedi, Rex. Ahsoka knows it and while she does follow my teachings to a degree, she also knows I tend to interpret the code for my own use. She's pretty determined to avoid my 'break the rules I don't like and get rewarded for it' motto."

"She is a remarkable young woman, sir."

"That she is."

Rex was silent for a long minute as they navigated one of the more narrow passages around the villa. When he spoke again, there was quiet conviction in his tone. "I'd hate to see her dreams crushed by the likes of him."

Apparently a mutual adoration society had been formed between Lux and Rex and Anakin chuckled softly. "Why Rex, are you jealous?"

There was a heartbeat of silence that lasted a touch overlong and rang warning bells in Anakin's head before Rex answered.

"No, sir. Concerned for a friend, is all."

It struck Anakin in that moment just how young his Captain really was. Not in warfare - few clones could match the Captain's lightning quick mind, adaptability and tenacity - but in other situations.

An image of Rex and Ahsoka came back to him from earlier that morning, when they'd been out on the terrace. Rex had been teasing her, true, but - on reflection - had there had been an underlying note of hesitant flirtation? If there had been, Ahsoka had more than responded to it even if it had been unconscious.

She'd always been more comfortable with Rex than anyone else, even him, and the Clone Captain was equally as comfortable in her company more so than anyone else's. In any other circumstance, Anakin wondered if he'd have cause to be worried except that neither thought of the other consciously as more than a good friend, so who was he to interfere?

He wasn't about to put ideas in their heads if it hadn't already occurred. He had enough to handle without making a difficult situation worse. Anakin shook his head, musing mostly to himself. "What is it about an older woman that can tie men in knots?"

"Sir?"

"Nothing," Anakin pulled himself back to the present, wondering if his tired mind was just seeing things where there weren't any. "Just thinking aloud. I'm glad to hear it, Rex. She's going to need all the friends she can get."

Rex seemed to relax with his easy acceptance. "Yes, sir. If you'll excuse me?"

"Going already?" Anakin shook his head in mock irritation. "Sometimes I think you like my Padawan more than I, Captain."

"She's easier on the eyes, sir."

"But just as reckless?"

"Just as effective, sir."

Anakin laughed, slapping the clone on one shoulder. "You should try politics, Rex; I think you'd be good at it."

"I'd rather be a soldier where I can just shoot my enemy instead of trying to discredit him and worrying about a metaphorical knife in my back later."

"I hear you. Where are you off to?"

"To wake Fives; it's time for his watch."

"Time for... Sith!" Anakin glanced at his chrono and then up towards the balcony where his wife waited behind semi-closed doors. "I'm late."

"Nothing new there, General."

"Thanks." Dryly, Anakin shot the clone a look. "Sleep well, Rex. We'll see you in the morning."

"Yes sir; you too... when you get there."

With a laugh, Anakin grinned, called on the Force, and leapt to the balcony. The half open door beckoned, the glimpse of Padmé's bare feet on the end of the bed enough to have him reaching for the ties on his tunic as he stepped towards it.

It was time to keep his promise.

TBC