Closer

The next day, Anakin was working under the hood of yet another badly damaged speeder when Dax, dressed unusually nice for being in a garage, sauntered up to him.
"I just back from my accountant. He told me that this new casino will double my income over the next year." He proclaimed.
"You just keep finding more and more ways to make money, Dax." he replied, slightly preoccupied with his repair work.
"I hear Jordana wants to come and work at my new casino instead of here."
"Unfortunately, yes."
"And this is a bad thing?"
"I worry about her with a bunch of drunk brutes who're probably going to be losing most of their money."
"Oh I see." He paused for a moment, "So what's going on between you two? You both looked mighty cozy next to that railing."
Anakin slammed the hood down and in one sweep of his forearm, wiped the sweat from his face, "You mean other than the fact that I've fallen in love with my best friend?"
"Ah ha! I knew it! Who was right?"
"You were, Dax." he groaned.
"Damn right!" he cheered, "So did you tell her?"
"No."
"Why the fuck not?"
"Because," he started. Because he was feeling the same apprehension he felt when he told Padme he loved her, only now the stakes were higher. Padme's initial rejection had hurt, but he knew that if she still didn't return his feelings for her by the end of the mission, he would lick his wounds and hope and pray that he could forget the kiss he shared with her. He could crawl back to the Jedi, back to Jordana, pick up the pieces and every thing would be fine again. But if he was rejected by Jordana, he risked destroying his friendship with her. He couldn't let that happen. But he couldn't deny his deepening feelings for her, either.

"How about this: If you don't tell her in the next few days, I will personally kick your ass." he joked.
"You really want to see us together, don't you?"
"Anakin, you two are closest thing I have to family right now. You love her, and I can tell by the look in her eyes that she feels more for you than platonic friendship. I want you and Jordana to get married, fuck, and make little Jedi babies."
Anakin couldn't help but laugh at Dax's blunt statement.
"I'm serious. You two need to start fucking."
"It's more than just her looks, Dax. She's been the only person I can fully trust. She's loyal, trustworthy, loving. It's only now that I've discovered how stunningly beautiful she is."
"Oh I know. I could see that from day one. You still coming tonight?"
"Yeah, we'll be there."

Back at the apartment, Jordana was sprawled out on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Memories from the previous night raced through her mind as she tried to make sense of them all. Was Anakin simply on a rebound from Padme, or did he truly care for her? She hoped for the latter. The feeling of being held in Anakin's arms was an illusory, and yet at the same time real and comfortable, one, something she'd only experienced in her dreams but was a thousand times sweeter in real life. Until now, her emotions had been dormant, buried deep inside her heart, only surfacing in the solitude of night. But now they had awakened with full force, aching to be released, to break through her mental restraints and pour themselves before him. But she had held them secret for so long, she feared letting them go.

Suddenly, her pager started vibrating on the night stand with another number to call Tahira at. She pulled her personal comlink out of her pocket and dialed the number.
"Master, you really need to stick to one location."
'I can't, you know that.'
"Yeah, yeah I know. Are you and Obi-Wan any closer to leaving yet?"
'We still haven't found Count Dooku, and it's rumored that several of the Separatist Council members are still at large.'
"Fuck."
'Patience Jordana. It's only been five months, when it's been five years, then you can yell at me. Besides, I want to know if anything's happened between you and Anakin.'
"Nothing, yet."
'Yet?'
"Yeah. I mean there's, like, a little bit of flirting here and there but neither one of us has made a really serious move. He definitely seems to be over his ex-wife, though."
'Not much to get over. She did dump him in the worst way possible.'
"Yeah. So how are things between you and Obi-Wan? Have you two...you know?"
'...Maybe.'
"Tahira Vereek, you tease! You did, didn't you?"
'Ok, fine we did.'
"Ah ha! I knew it! Details!"
'When you and Anakin start doing it, I'll tell you.'
"Well fine. I that's how you want to be."
'I can't give out details right now. And unfortunately I have to go now. I'll try to contact you again in a few weeks.'
"Alright Master. May the Force be with you."
'And may the Force be with you too, Jordana.'

Tahira shut off the comlink and gently rubbed the tiny bump that was concealed underneath her robs.
"Oh, Obi-Wan," she whispered, "What are we going to do now?"

That night, Anakin and Jordana resumed their usual positions in Dax's V.I.P section. Much to his dismay, she had been seriously considering taking the job in the casino.
"Jordie," he pleaded, "stay at the garage with me."
"Why are you so against me taking this job?"
"Because I don't want anything happening to you."
"Anakin, it's a casino, not a whorehouse. And it's Dax's casino, no less. Of all the casinos on this damn planet, don't you think this would be the safest one?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed deeply into her eyes, giving her 'the face': widening his eyes and curling his lower lip into a small pout.
"That face won't work on me this time."
"It did last time."
"Well, I'm not seventeen years old any more."
"No, no you're not." he agreed.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"You've changed so much since then. You've matured into a beautiful, strong, loving young woman." he explained, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks flushed and he cupped her face in his human hand. Her jade eyes sparkled and reflected the love he felt for her. Every instinct demanded that he kiss her, to tell her how he felt, but he resisted. He wanted it to be special, he wanted to tell her someplace where it was just the two of them.
"Come on, let's order some food. I'm starving." he quickly changed the mood and began leading her to the bar.
"You order something for me. I have to run to the restroom."

Jordana's heart was beating so wildly in her chest she could have sworn that if there had been another soul in the bathroom, they would have heard it. Hunched over the sink, her ragged breathing echoed against the marble walls. She wiped a cool, wet cloth over her forehead and cheeks, abating the heat the flooded them. Her and Anakin had come to close to kissing she could practically taste his lips on hers. And just like that it had ended. She raised her hand to the cheek that Anakin had held, her skin still alive with the electricity his touch sent through her.
Once she got over the surprise of Anakin calling her beautiful, she decided to head back to him. As she walked the distance from the restroom back to the V.I.P., she felt like she was being watched. She tensed and moments later, someone grabbed her and shoved her into a wall. She looked up to face her attacker, a large, very drunk man.
"Well, look what we have here. A pretty young thing, all alone." he hissed.
His breath reeked of alcohol and she turned her head in disgust.
"Listen to me you worthless maggot," she snarled, "I'll give you once chance to let me go before I make you sorry you ever laid eyes on me."
But he was too drunk to pay her any mind and used one hand to pin her hands above her head while his other hand went to work roaming over her body. Her brain filled with memories of Ventress' torture, and rage flashed across her eyes.
"You asked for it." she growled and used the Force to tighten his airway. His hands flew to his throat and she elbowed him across the face.
"You wench! You'll pay for that!"
He swung a large, cumbersome fist towards her but she simply held up her hand and caught it, though her hand could barely fit around his knuckles. With one sharp twist, she snapped his arm half way between his wrist and elbow. Bones and blood erupted through the torn flesh and he fell to his knees in agony. She glared at the pitiful creature lying at her feet. It was lucky she no longer had her lightsaber, because she'd have decapitated it right there. The crowd parted a little for her as she made her way back towards Anakin and Dax, but they paid little mind to the man lying on the floor.

She found them sitting at a table, playing a card game, a plate of food beside them.
"Hey Jordana! We thought you got lost somewhere and were about to send a search party after you." Dax joked.
"No, but if you find any blood stains on the floor, I'll pay to have them cleaned."
"Blood stains?" Anakin asked, panic filling his chest.
"I broke a guy's arm after he tried to rape me."
"What!" Anakin and Dax both jumped up, Anakin embracing her.
"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
"No, I'm fine."
Rage boiled deep in Anakin's soul. How dare that monster even think about touching her! He pulled her tightly into him.
"Anakin," she whispered, "everything will be ok. I'm not hurt, and that bastard will probably never have proper use of his arm again."
He wanted to kill him, to rip his vocal cords out, or crush his heart within his chest. But Dax had already left to evaluate the situation, so there was little he could do now.

Back at their apartment, Jordana was trying to calm Anakin down, with little success. He couldn't comprehend how she could act so unaffected by the whole situation.
"I'm not unaffected Anakin, just confident in how I handled it."
"But what if he'd-"
"Anakin-"
"I don't want to lose you! I don't want to see you hurt! I can't-"
'I can't live without you.' his mind shouted what his mouth couldn't.
She sat next to him on the sofa and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
"I know, Anakin. And I'd probably feel the same way if I was in your position right now. But you don't have to worry about me Anakin. You'll never lose me. One, I'm not completely defenseless. Two, after all we've been through together, it's going to take more than some drunken low life to take me from you."
He smiled warmly and embraced her, nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck.
"What would I do without you?" he whispered.
"I guess you'll never know the answer to that question 'cause you'll never be in that position." She rubbed his back gently. "Come on, we need sleep. We need sleep, and to just forget about this in the morning."

That night, the two friends dreamt of each other, wrapped in the other's arms. The sun bathed them in warmth, while the blades of grass danced in the breeze. The only sound that could be heard was their joyous laughter.