Ch. 4

Thanks to everyone for your great reviews and encouragement! Sorry I can't respond to you all individually, but know I read each comment and am greatly appreciative. To answer one of your questions: Ahsoka's club name she gave Reln is pronounced Ah – LEF – nuh, accent on the second syllable. I hope that helps.

Also, though tonight's is short, and not full of typical Clone Wars action, I will be posting the follow-up midweek – knock on wood. I just thought we'd give Ahsoka a little bit of an authentic teenage experience for once. Also, I needed a chapter that will set-up the tying of all strings in the next 2 – 3.

Same deal as all the other chapters. I don't claim to own anything Star Wars or Clone Wars, except for Reln and the Neimoidian representative for Nute Gunray. Enjoy :)

"Am I really that boring a date?" Reln teased, even though Ahsoka tried her best to hide her small, though apparently noticeable, yawn.

She chuckled. "You are fine. I am just not used to these late hours, that's all."

Well, that wasn't exactly true. There had been many times where a mission required her to stay awake all night, sometimes postponing sleep for more than a day. But off the battle-field, a routine was more firmly set into place.

A routine she was sure would become all the more regimented once her master and the other Council Members had their say with her. Ahsoka paled ever so slightly at the thought. She had never intended to stay out this late, and was sure somebody was aware of her absence at the Temple by now. Another pang of guilt churned her stomach – one of many throughout the evening. Ahsoka did not want anyone to worry after her. She could only hope her master wouldn't be too angry.

She shuddered as she felt a wave of concern, frustration, and disappointment wash over her. It was like a wash of colors, each one with the hue unique to each of the Jedi Masters and friends close to her. Masters Anakin, Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, and even Barris: all of their fears and concerns for her well-being flowing into the Force, compounding her guilt and causing her to second-guess her actions of the evening.

Yet if what she was doing was so wrong, how could she also feel so light, so happy?

She hadn't felt this free in … well, since before becoming her master's Padawan. Not that she could blame him, of course. It wasn't his fault they were in a war. But she did yearn for the peace and innocence that were part of her life prior to his entering it. Or maybe it was the other way around. Prior to hers entering his.

If given the opportunity to do it again, would she have chosen another way? Does she regret the decision of being Anakin Skywalker's – the Chosen One's – Padawan?

Ahsoka shook her head firmly, hoping her conflicting thoughts and emotions would settle themselves into some sort of balance.

Reln reached out to steady her. He rubbed her shoulders, the warmth of his strong hands spreading through her body. "Hey? Are you okay? Would you like me to get you a drink or something?"

Concern made his naturally deep blue eyes take on a grey coloring. All thoughts about her life vanished. Ahsoka was content to be fully vested in that present moment – like any good Jedi is trained to do, she mused with a wry and ironic chuckle.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"Oh nothing. Just thinking about my mas-," Ahosoka quickly caught herself before giving more away than she had intended. Reln still had no idea she was a Jedi, and for some reason, did not feel like divulging that bit of information. "I mean my strict uncles and really over-protective older brother," she managed.

"Wow, I didn't realize I was so rusty." Reln affected a wounded demeanor, causing her to giggle shyly. He didn't let up. "When a beautiful woman would rather spend her time thinking about her uncles and brother than me, I guess I have to work on my conversation skills," he said, while trailing a finger softly along her jawline.

Ahsoka felt her breath catching. Thoughts of her "uncles" and "older brother" were evaporating.

"No, you're wonderful!" She clapped her hand over her mouth. Did she really say that out loud?

Reln laughed, the sound of his voice Happiness embodied, as he took her hand from off her face and clasped it in his own, drawing her nearer to his chest. She could smell his scent, and it was intoxicating.

"Let me guess," he said. "Your stodgy old uncles and mean big brother don't know you're out, do they?"

She nodded her head slowly, mesmerized by this game. "And I'd also venture to guess that if they knew where you were, they wouldn't be too happy about it, either."

Ahsoka's throat grew dry and her pulse quickened. She mouthed the word "no" but could not get any sound out.

"Well, Ahlevhna, if you were my little sister, I would be pretty upset with you right now. And you'd definitely know it as soon as I'd get you home," he said, with a firm edge. She averted her gaze to the floor, slightly embarrassed at the hint of censure in his voice.

He tipped her chin up, so she could look him in the eyes. "Luckily for me, you aren't my sister."

The next thing Ahsoka knew, his lips were on hers and she was leaning into his delightfully firm chest, hungrily responding to his kiss. After what seemed a delicious eternity, he pulled away, smiling down at her.

She smiled back, in a daze. Yes, Master Anakin was going to kill her when she got home, just as Reln would do to his own sister. But quite frankly, she didn't care what her master or any other council member had to say at the moment. That kiss was worth a thousand disciplinary councils.

Something from behind her caught Reln's eye, and he muttered something under his breath.

"Ahlevhna," he sighed. "Hold this thought. I'll be right back to pick-up this conversation," he promised meaningfully, causing her stomach to grow warm with anticipation. "But I've got a bit of business I need to attend to, first."

She raised a questioning brow. "Business? Really? What's her name?" she teased.

He smirked. "It's not like that, promise. This really is legitimate. Had I known I would be meeting you, I would have scheduled my business meeting for another night. Trust me, you are more fun and definitely easier on the eyes."

Ahsoka smiled at the compliment, and knew he wasn't lying. Reln relaxed, noticing she believed him.

"Don't go away. I'll be back in twenty, thirty minutes at the most. Order anything you want to eat or drink, on me." With that, Reln pecked her on the lips before swiftly walking away from the table.

She watched him stride over to a dimly lit, private room cordoned off by some opaque drapes. As they lifted, she could make out what seemed a man with two or three others behind him. The man, though she wasn't one-hundred percent positive, looked Neimoidian. Reln stepped into the room and the curtains dropped.

For some reason, the old beggar woman's visage came to Ahsoka's mind. She bit her lips, slightly swollen from the kiss Reln had given her. Whereas moments earlier all she could taste was an overwhelming sweetness, now the kiss was laced with something she couldn't quite place. It unnerved her.

Ahsoka was nervous. Not just for herself, but for Reln, too.