POV: Ahsoka Tano

Two weeks of misery have slowly gone by. Dooku continues to torture Anakin and there's nothing I can really do for him. I attacked Dooku and he threatened me with the life of my baby. Luckily, he allows me to visit Anakin. I'm even allowed to stay with him during the night.

I was sitting in Anakin's cell, holding him close to me. He sleeps a lot... He began to moan and his eyes tightened. His mouth opened slightly and his teeth clenched. He was having a nightmare... He tossed and turned in my lap for a few minutes while I stroked his hair.

"Anakin, sweetheart, wake up," I whispered. He was beginning to sweat and breathe faster. He lurched himself into a sitting position and started gasping. "Ani, I'm here," I said, wrapping my arms around his waist. He put his head in his hands, trying to clear away whatever he had been dreaming. "Are you all right?" I asked, kissing his neck.

"I... I guess. It was just a dream."

"About... what?"

He paused for a few moments and then sighed. "You."

He turned around to face me. I met his eyes. "What happened?"

His eyes closed and a single tear fell. "Dooku was... killing you..."

"Anakin, he won't kill me unless I disobey him." I pulled him close to me and hugged him.

Dooku walked in. "My dear, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

I pulled away and glared. "You said that I get to spend nights with him!"

"Leave or I will forbid you from seeing him at all." I looked at Anakin. He nodded, so I got up and left. I didn't go too far. I wanted to know what was going on. "Skywalker, tell me how many force-sensitive children are on Coruscant."

Anakin scoffed at him. "Count, I wouldn't tell you if you were my ally. That is restricted information."

Dooku sighed, "I thought you might say that." The next thing I heard were screams of agony. I hate myself for bringing him into this. He didn't deserve any of this... His screams lasted for a minute and then I heard low cries. Dooku's footsteps were approaching me. I silently ran down the hallway. When Dooku came up to me, he nodded. "You can see him now."

I walked past him at a normal pace, waiting for him to leave. Once he was gone, I broke into a sprint. I needed to be in there with Anakin. When I arrived, Anakin was lying on the stone floor of his cell. His arms were spread apart and his face showed so much pain. "Ani, Ani," I said, trying to get a reaction from him. I lifted him and laid him against my chest. I wrapped my arms around his waist. He was so quiet. "Anakin... I am so sorry..."

I leaned my head on his shoulder and began to cry. I felt him move. He twisted around slowly to look at me. "Don't cry..." I looked into his eyes, swimming in his emotions. Something wasn't right. I could feel that something was definitely off... "Angels shouldn't cry..." he whispered, wiping away my tears.

I frowned, "I am no angel, Anakin. Look at what's happened to you..."

His face relaxed. "The light shines perfectly on you."

"What light?" I asked, confused.

Before he could answer, his breathing began to slow and his eyes began to glaze over. I called for a medic droid, which appeared quickly, running scans on him. "You're beautiful..."

His hand reached for my cheek, but he quickly drew back, wincing in pain. I grabbed his hand. "Do not leave me, Anakin. Do you understand me?"

"You'll take care of me after this?"

"Of course."

"Then I'm at peace with myself."

"What?" His face turned away from me, dropping to the side. "No, no, no!" I shouted, frantic.

I looked at the droid, watching it attempt to revive Anakin's life. The droid turned to me after a few minutes and said, "He will recover."

"What was wrong with him?"

"His body was going into shock and had some mental signs of trauma. His body was shutting down," the droid's monotonous voice replied.

I looked back at Anakin. He looked peaceful, but I could feel everything going through his body. I stroked his hair and smiled at him. "You'll be okay soon, Ani," I whispered. I fell asleep next to him, planning on how to get him out of here.

POV: Count Dooku

After a few hours, I could still feel Skywalker's life. This time wasn't enough to kill him, but next time would be. I would make sure of it. If he wouldn't die slowly, I'd put an end to him quickly. I don't see how this little Togruta can be attracted to him, but I would continue to use her feelings to my advantage.

This pathetic waste of the Force would do as I commanded if she wants her precious master to survive another day.

I would eventually kill him, sealing her turn to the dark side with all of her anger and sadness. I made my way down various hallways leading to Skywalker's cell. Ahsoka was asleep on the floor and Skywalker was sitting against the far wall, glaring at me. "Oh, don't look so upset, Skywalker. Be happy that you remain amongst the living."

"Just you wait until I get out of here, Dooku. I will become your worst nightmare."

I laughed. "My worst nightmare? You couldn't possibly amount to that. You can't do anything to me because you're a Jedi."

"Just wait," he growled.

Pathetic.

POV: Anakin Skywalker

"Just wait," I threatened.

He laughed, clearly underestimating my abilities. "I will Skywalker. You'll prove me correct when the time comes." With that said, he left.

I reached over and softly caressed Ahsoka's cheek. She stirred a bit and I pulled away. I hadn't meant to wake her up. "Anakin?" she whispered.

"It's me. I'm okay."

She jumped into my lap and wrapped her arms around me with such force that all the wind was blown out of me. She kissed me before I could regain anything, but pulled back quickly. "I'm going to get you out of here, Ani."

"What about you? You know I won't leave you."

"I'll get out eventually. I'll send a transmission to Master Kenobi on my comlink when Dooku makes me leave you." I pulled her face toward mine and slowly kissed her.

For the next two hours, we talked about the future. We conjured up a fantasy with our baby. We even decided on a few names. Kellan for a boy and Kaimi for a girl.

Ventress came in and told Ahsoka that she had to leave. Ahsoka looked up at me and kissed me. She got up and left. "I'll see you later tonight, Master." She left and Ventress trailed after her. I'm only going to assume that she's being sent on a mission, but plans on contacting Obi-Wan when she returns.

POV: Obi-Wan Kenobi

Two weeks and no word from Anakin. I sent Cody's battalion out to look for him on various planets, but the Council would keep recalling them back to Coruscant.

Satine thinks that she's going to have the baby soon, so I'm considering taking leave for a 'meditative retreat' to spend time with her and Airi on Mandalore. I hardly take anytime out of being a Jedi, so I could take off for a while. My comlink began to beep. I looked at the channel code. "Anakin! Are you all right?"

"Master Kenobi, this is Ahsoka. Anakin isn't all right, which is the reason I contacted you. I was hoping that you could come rescue him..."

"Do you know where you both are?"

"Of course. I'll transmit coordinates after we discuss the plan. He's locked up in a cell. I'm allowed to be with him during the night, so that's when you'll arrive."

"Has he been fed and taken care of?"

"He eats the food I bring him and I take care of him. Dooku does... quite the opposite. I need you to get him out of here before Dooku kills him."

Ahsoka sent me the coordinates. They were still on Mustafar. "How will I know when you're ready for me to land and take him away?"

"I'll contact you, Master."

"Are you coming with him?"

"I'll... try. Anakin doesn't want to leave me behind."

"Good man. I agree with him. I don't like the idea of leaving you behind either."

"I have to go, Master. I'll contact you later."

"Don't get yourself into trouble. See you later."

We closed the link. I was relieved about knowing where they were and what was going on, sort of. I ran to the Council chamber, bursting in unannounced. "Master Kenobi, a problem, there is?"

"Ahsoka just contacted me. I know where Anakin is. She gave me a plan."

"Where are they?" Mace asked.

"Mustafar. Ahsoka told me to come during the night."

"Prepare the clones, you will. Rescue young Skywalker, you must."

I bowed. "Yes, Master." I left and went to find Rex and Cody. They would ready their troops and make sure the ships were all ready to go. "Rex," I called him over, finding him first.

He ran over to me. "Yes, General?"

"We've gotten word from Commander Tano. She and General Skywalker are on Mustafar."

"When do we leave for them?"

"Before nightfall. We will leave soon, so we arrive on time. She will contact me when she's gotten herself and Anakin ready to leave."

"I'll get my troops ready. Would you like me to inform Commander Cody of this also?"

"Yes, thank you, Rex. I'll see you later."

"Yes, sir." Rex was a good man. He's definitely got his fierceness in the right spot. He's a very loyal soldier; I can't see him ever turning against us.

A few hours later.

"Obi-Wan, are you close?"

"Yes, Ahsoka. Are you both all right?"

"Yes. Just waiting for you," she laughed.

"We're landing at the rendezvous point, Ahsoka. You're out here?"

"Yes," she said, breaking off into a whisper with Anakin. "They're coming for us. You ready?"

I heard him say 'yes,' like he was relieved. I guess he was, being that Ahsoka told me how Dooku 'took care of him.' As we were reaching the ground, I looked out a window and saw them. Anakin looked a little beaten and tired, while Ahsoka looked... well, like a pregnant Ahsoka.

Right when we hit the ground, I made the ramp go down. I ran off the ship like my life depended on it. I ran to Ahsoka and hugged her, then hugged Anakin. "It's good to see you both."

Ahsoka smiled at me and Anakin... half-smiled. "Good to see you, too, Master," he replied.

"I'll watch the base. You guys get on the ship."

Anakin turned around and looked at her as if she had gone mad. "Aren't you –?"

"I want you on the ship right now, Anakin. I'm going to make sure no one stops you from leaving."

I chuckled to myself. Ahsoka was like my Satine. Very demanding and aggressive.

I made sure Anakin got onto the ship safely and got him comfortable. "You're all right, Anakin?"

"Now that I'm out of that cell, yes. Go get Ahsoka."

I walked back to the ramp and it flew up just as I was going to run down it. "What in the Force?"

I ran to the cockpit of the ship where two clones were struggling to gain control over the panel. I looked out the window to see Ahsoka using the Force to control the ship. Dooku and Ventress came out of the base and attacked her. Before we could do anything, our ship's flight was locked for Coruscant.

Anakin wasn't going to be too happy about this... I slowly walked back to the area Anakin was relaxing in. I tried to find the right words to say to him that wouldn't upset him. The door slid open and I walked in. Anakin looked up at me and confusion took over his expression. "Obi-Wan, where's Ahsoka?"

"I'm sorry, Anakin..."

"Where is she?" he yelled, jumping from his position.

"She... decided to force us out. Dooku and Ventress have her..."

"We have to go back!"

I could hear the anger and rage in his voice, but there was nothing he or I could do about it right now. Ahsoka locked our course. "Anakin, we can't. Ahsoka has our course set for Coruscant."

He slammed his fist into a wall. "Ahsoka..." he whispered.

We arrived on Coruscant a little bit later. I ordered an immediate return to Mustafar. When we arrived, the base was destroyed and there was no sign of Dooku, Ventress, or Ahsoka...

POV: Anakin Skywalker

A month has gone by since Obi-Wan got me off of Mustafar.

I can't help but worry about Ahsoka. She won't open our link and she won't contact me.

Obi-Wan was on a 'retreat' being with his wife. They're newlyweds as of a week ago. Airi Kenobi was brought into the world and was a truly beautiful sight. Obi-Wan invited me to his wedding; I gratefully went. Satine was happy to see me and the three of us discussed the babies we were each going to parent.

It was a nice week away from all of the war troubles. I couldn't help but miss Ahsoka with every fiber in my body. She wasn't letting us help her. Master Windu just called me to the Council chamber, so I should probably go...even though I don't want to. I got off of my bed and put my robe on, heading out the door and in the direction of the chambers.

As soon as I walked in, I saw a youngling in the center of the room. I only assumed a lecture was going on, so I backed out. "Skywalker, come in," Windu commanded.

I was confused, but did as I was told. All of the masters watched me carefully. "A touchy subject, this is," Master Yoda began.

"Skywalker, we have called you here for a new beginning."

"Oh?" I interjected. "What was wrong with my life before?"

Windu glared at me, but continued. "Since your previous Padawan has left and will not return, you are being –"

"No."

"–reassigned a new apprentice. Anakin, this is Jaele Kide. He is your new apprentice."

Jaele is a Twi-lek. He looks to be about thirteen or so. "Master, I'm sorry, but I can't take up another apprentice."

"Take a new apprentice, you will, young Skywalker."

As much as I regretted it, I agreed. "Yes, masters."

Jaele ran up beside me and greeted me, "Hello, Master."

"Hi," I responded.

I bowed to the masters and left, Jaele following. "So, what do we do first, Master?" he asked. I was lost in thought. I didn't even know what to do. I felt a sickening sadness reappear. This was the exact sadness I felt when we left Ahsoka on Mustafar. "Master?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Jaele. You can relax for today. We'll begin your training tomorrow."

"Yes, Master. Where are our quarters?"

I gave him the room number and made my way for an area to meditate. I couldn't help but be consumed by my anger toward the Council. They had just pushed another apprentice upon me while I had clearly failed at training the first.

I sat down on the floor of an empty room and released all of my emotions after several minutes. Once my mind was cleared, I felt a little bit better.

"Anakin..."