The screams of incoming shells melded with the hollers of the girls next to her. This intolerable symphony clawed at her head to the point of near insanity as each round shook the earth around her rocking even the strongest of heart to their bones. Putting her hands over her ears and hoping that turned into some type of praying was the only recourse.

After ten grueling minutes it stopped and she peered outside of the ditch only to see droids pour from the dunes to her left. Still shaking Ahsoka stared at the enemy marching towards her and looked at innocent people around her. It was a mixed patchwork of races and ages she knew wouldn't last a minute. With the sun rise creeping at her back she activated her light sabers took a deep breath then rushed in. Moments later she hit the metallic wall slicing through wave after wave until she reached the commander. He pulled out a pistol and tried to shoot but was impaled before truly getting a chance.

Looking back numb was the only feeling she could conjure up after surveying the sight. The Carcasses of her soldiers mixed with remains of droids littered the landscape. Out of the corner of her eye the sight of people emerging from hiding made instinct kick back in and she ran over.

After getting them back into cover she called again for pickup. While waiting the events of the night before ran over again and again in her mind. No matter how many time she thought about it an answer for her actions was elusive. Lost in thought she shrugged off when Obi Wan tapped on her shoulder.

"Ahsoka what happened." His tone showed signs of concern.

"Uh master, I'm sorry I didn't hear you."

She tried to play it off.

"Ahsoka is everything ok?"

"I'm fine master, I just ran into some problems completing my first objective."

"Well what happened? Where is the guide and our informant?"

Ahsoka paused for a moment and looked down.

"They're dead the meet-up was an ambush I-I barely escaped."

Lying was the only thing that came to mind.

He sighed "I see, where did the civilians come from?"

"They're Republic prisoners from a camp, my men liberated them on the way back here. Some of them must be important since the separatist sent troops after us."

Obi Wan looked over the cuts and bruises covering her body and put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry for what happened it must have been rough. I think its best you return to the fleet me and Anakin can handle the mop-up here."

"You don't have to do that master I'm shaken up but fine. Anyway if you send me back who will make sure Anakin doesn't do something too crazy."

He laughed." I don't think either of us has control over that. Still if you feel ready I can send you over to his position."

"Thank you master and I feel fine."

"I'm glad, once we clear all this up you and I can go over in detail what happened."

She nodded and they walked to a nearby gunship for the quiet trip back to the city where black smoke melded into the grey clouds from last night's rainfall.

Gunfire buzzed off around her as she ran from the ship to the front lines. Crouching behind a wall she spotted Anakin pinned down by heavy fire. Jumping to the second story of the building next to her she got a better view of the situation.

Inside the bombed out remains of a complex a Machine gun team was set up with a view over the entire area. Seeing Anakin in danger she ran for it before Obi Wan could catch up. Gunning across the open she then began climbing the cement wall up to the enemy.

Each crevasse she grabbed onto cut into her hands but the thought of Anakin in trouble ruled out all pain. When she slid into a narrow window and the men saw her light sabers ignite they ran in fear. Rushing down a set of nearly collapsed stairs each man moved in panic fearing her cutting at their backs. Ahsoka was waiting when each coward arrived at the bottom. Every one of them surrendered and despite the strong feelings to kill each one she gathered them up instead.

Down the street Anakin was talking with Obi Wan.

"Did you find everything you were looking for down there Obi Wan?"

He looked back with a smirk that said why are you even asking.

" More than I could of hoped for."

"Is this the point where you start telling me exactly what's going on? "

"Anakin you need to trust me on this I won't keep you out of the loop much longer."

"Cut the shit you said that a month ago."

Obi Wan walked over to his side and whispered to him.

"Most Jedi your age would feel lucky to be where you are so mind your place."

"Why are you acting like this what's so important?"

"Give me more time Anakin just focus on training your padawan and getting through this war."

"Fine, it can wait, for now."

Ahsoka walked up as Obi Wans gunship took off.

"Master"

Seeing the bruises he signaled for her to follow him down the street to an empty building.

"You ok." His tone had a whiff of panic to it.

She didn't answer.

Once inside he led her to an empty room in the rear and locked the door behind them.

"What happened to you?"

"I messed up on my mission and I don't know what to do about it."

"How bad?"

She sat down and went over the nights events.

Ahsoka looked over at Anakin after finishing. Inside she felt guilty for forcing this on him.

"Why did you do it?" He asked the question that had been nagging at her all morning.

" I don't know at first I thought I was saving her from killing herself but now I just I- "

"Snips you made a choice that would break most people down. Not only did you get up afterwards you led your men to guard dozens of innocent people against overwhelming odds. I would look at that and call you a hero."

A faint smile appeared on her face." Thank you"

"No matter what you think about it you made the right choice ."

She accepted his words as truth and nodded back in agreement.

Anakin laid down with a tired soul trapped in a young man's body. Ahsoka instinctively lay on top of him bringing a warm sensation to his entire being. Even with her recent mistake she was still a saint compared to him.

"I wish we could stay like this longer."

"I do too."

Anakin lumbered his body back up and sighed. "Maybe later, when were back in orbit."

" Of course." Their lips meet before heading back out the door.

Further down the street Rex was handing out orders to a squad and ran over when they appeared.

"Glad to see your back sir."

"What's the situation?"

"No more enemy contacts sir just a few spider holes."

Ahsoka looked over at Anakin." What's that?"

They walked over to a small opening in the ground a few hundred feet away. "It's a small tunnel dug into the ground. Soldiers hide weapons and sometimes themselves inside."

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

A second later Rex slung a grenade into the hole.

Screams of panic then an explosion followed by a cloud of dust and body parts.

Laughs from some of the new cadets were silenced by glares from the veterans.

Everyone was caught off guard by the cries of a child who ran down from a group of civilians.

"DADDY!"

A young boy fear in his eyes ran to the group.

"MY DADDIES IN THERE WHERE IS HE!"

Anakin ran over and stopped the boy from jumping in the hole.

"Hey look at me."

The boy fought back and tried to break free.

"Look at me I'm going to help you find him so look over here."

He continued his struggle.

Anakin picked the boy up and walked him over to the crowd.

"Does anyone know where this boy's mother is?"

"She's dead." An older woman stepped from the crowd and looked Anakin square in eyes. "His mother was killed in your attack this morning."

"I'm sorry for the loss but do you know of any family he has left."

"Your men killed his mother and now you've murdered his father for protecting him."

"If I give you credits will you take care of him?"

"I don't need money to care for something Republic scum." She tried to snatch the child from his hands but he broke free and ran.

Anakin watched as he jumped into the arms of a middle aged man.

"DADDY!"

Seeing the boy reunited with his father calmed the fear that was brewing of leaving him behind.

The old woman almost fell over in shock at the sight of him as Anakin walked off.

Ahsoka saw the strain on his face and tried to comfort him.

"At least he found his father."

Anakin's tone was as somber as his look. "That's one less orphan of the hundreds I've helped create today."

Before she could respond he already walked over to Rex. When she asked him about it later he played it off as a joke then changed the subject. Ahsoka could feel how raw he was on the subject and knew something was wrong.

Clearing out pockets of resistance continued until nightfall when they got the all clear from command.

Later on in the night they laid together again enjoying the long embrace denied to them earlier.

"You still stuck on last night."

Anakin let his concerns for her be known. The fact that she might see or act in the atrocities he did was unacceptable.

She pulled her arms from his warm embrace and wrapped them around his neck then planting another kiss on him.

"I'm lying next to you so I'm sure you know the answer."

A smirk cut into his calm smile.

"Maybe, but I don't like taking chances so why don't you tell me."

"Hmmm" while pausing she rubbed her legs against his under the sheets. "Since you never tell me how you feel why should I return the favor."

Anakin shook his head and chuckled. "Now I don't know if you want that favor to be personal or physical."

"Personal" her response was quick and tone strong enough as to let Anakin in on the fact tonight she wanted answers.

The charming smile of his subdued as he dug in for the personal assault he knew was to come. Still he knew how much it hurt him to have Obi Wan hold back the truth and the beautiful woman in front of him deserved better.

"What do you want to know?"

She looked back puzzled. "Anything just like that?"

He laughed to himself." I'm in a special mood tonight so yes anything."

"I just want to know what was going through your head after seeing that kid today."

His finger ran over her scar that still could be seen from a block away.

"It was one of those moments when you see how many children get torn up by this. It makes you wonder who is going to raise and take care of them when this war ends?"

"How often do you think about it?"

"Not much it was just a passing thought. The only thing that's a constant on my mind is you."

Ahsoka blushed hearing his words.

"There you go again trying to divert my questions with flattery."

"What can I say I have years of practice."

"You know this won't stop me. Sooner or later I'll know all your secrets."

"I know"

For a moment Ahsoka was content to lay and bask in her happiness in quiet. Then the tick that comes to all young lovers kicked in and she leaned over into Anakin's ear.

"I love you."

At this moment he decided to let out what he had been telling her in silence for days.

"I love you too."