AN: I think I'll give these incentives once ever couple of weekends or so. Overwhelming response. So here it is, an update just like I promised. Have a nice weekend folks. I know I will. I'm tired and have been on the move all week. I was supposed to go somewhere today but felt like I needed to stay home and chill or else get sick. Later. Lady Dae out!

Read, enjoy, and review!

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Chapter Seven

Vader's attempts to meditate were in vain as he sat on his ship in the aftermath of the Battle of Hoth. It was a battle won for the empire in a way. In his rage over what had happened (meaning his troopers accidently shooting Ahsoka and the fact that she had been in Alliance detainment to begin with), he had ordered the whole facility to be reduced to rubble and that no one would be left alive except for important high ranking officers of the rebellion and of course his son who he had sensed somewhere in the midst of the battle. Of course, he had a new bone to pick with the High Council of the Alliance, like why Ahsoka was in their custody to begin with. He had the distinct feeling that Mon Mothma was behind it. Ahsoka had been complaining about the woman and her prying for days.

Vader suppressed a groan. He had too much cluttering his mind to meditate. Add to it the that fact that Ahsoka's presence had been distracting him since she had been brought on board, the attempt was in vain from the start. Deciding that he would get nothing accomplished in the area of meditation, he set off to the medical bay to see her.

She had hardly changed in the last few years. It was obvious she had been training more as she was more toned than he last remembered her, though it could have been that last time he saw her she was pregnant and had gained a little weight at the time. Vader frowned at that. Leia hadn't been telling her something about Shmi and he was going to find out what. But he'd wait until Ahsoka recovered from her wound to do that.

He remembered Ahsoka getting hurt and putting herself in danger plenty of times during her short time as his apprentice, but she had never scared him so much in those years as she had earlier that day. To see her tumbling down to the ground and see the nasty burn inflicted on her orange-red skin and if the situation weren't so dire, he would have turned around and demanded to know which one of the clones had let go of the rogue shot even though it would have been impossible to really know. Luckily, except for a little trouble breathing earlier, she was fine and the only indication of the shot would be the scar, that would heal and fade, and the soreness that was bound to result from it.

"You like watching me don't you?"

Vader looked down at her to see blue eyes on him. He frowned.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Long before you came in the room," Ahsoka said. "You must be losing your touch. You wouldn't have fallen for that years ago."

Vader waited before he replied. "I was thinking…"

"A long time to be thinking and not know I was awake," Ahsoka said sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of her bed trying to hide her grimace of pain from Vader. No such luck…

"You shouldn't do that. You'll only succeed in reopening the wound that way," he said to her.

"I've gone through worse in the last few years," Ahsoka said standing up despite his protest.

"Such as?"

"Childbirth," Ahsoka muttered with a wince. "I'm never doing that again."

Vader tried to suppress his curiosity at that point. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like what she was going to say when he asked about Shmi.

Sensing that Vader knew this as well, Ahsoka abruptly said, "Besides, you've walked around with wounds worse than this."

"Speaking of that, until I can figure out a way to explain why you're here, it would actually be better if you stay here," Vader said to her.

Ahsoka raised the face marking above her left eye at him before declaring, "I'm not staying here."

"You are."

"I rather be in a detention cell than in here," Ahsoka said knowing good and well Vader wasn't going to put her in one.

Her comment reminded Vader of her previous condition as an alliance prisoner but that too would have to wait. First he had to convince her to stay put.

"Ahsoka," Vader said.

"Just do what you do best. Tell them not to talk and then threaten them with death if they open their mouth. It's that simple. Rumor has it you like choking people," Ahsoka said simply and then looked at her blood soaked top. "I need something to wear."

The casualness of which Ahsoka said that surprised him, not that it wasn't the truth, even he would admit that. He didn't tolerate failure, betrayal, or incompetency. It was a known fact. But rather than act horrified about it, she said it as though she couldn't care less. Noticing that the only sound coming from him was the mechanical breathing of the suit, Ahsoka turned around to face him.

"What?" she asked.

"And you won't have a problem with that?" Vader asked.

"With what?"

Vader sighed and counted to three. Like he assumed, Ahsoka figured out what he meant. She must be really preoccupied to have forgotten that quick.

"Oh," Ahsoka said looking away from him. "Well, of course I would. But not like I could stop you if that's what you're going to do anyway."

"You're a horrible liar," Vader pointed out. "But if you don't wish to stay here, I suppose you'll have to remain in my quarters."

"Maybe I am better off in here," Ahsoka said dryly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean it's probably not much better in there unless your taste in décor has changed in the last few years," she teased.

Vader didn't even waste his time getting insulted. Ahsoka was being a little too teasing and comfortable. It could only mean she was trying to keep her mind from wandering somewhere else. But instead of pointing it out because he was more than certain it would only lead to an awesome fall out between them, he turned on his heel and gestured for her to follow him out the med bay.

"Stay close to me. Don't look at anyone, don't talk to anyone," he said as they walked.

"Yes master," Ahsoka said rolling her eyes. "You certainly haven't loosened up or gotten any less infuriating."

"You certainly haven't become any more tolerable," Vader shot back.

"In any case, you're better company than the Jedi," Ahsoka commented.

Vader didn't reply, not quite sure what to make of her comment. Apparently he had missed a lot in the last few years. Underneath her mask of indifference and teasing, he felt a lot of resentment and anger at more than just a few people.

As soon as they were in his quarters, Ahsoka took one look around and said, "Yep. Still as drab as ever."

That was it.

"Just stop it," Vader said finally fed up with this act.

"I haven't done anything."

"Yes you have," Vader snapped. "Stop this act like everything in the world is fine. You're obviously trying not to talk about your problems and to be honest I would prefer you were angry and brooding at the galaxy than trying not to think about whatever it is that's bothering you. This is just annoying."

To his shock, Ahsoka stepped up to him and reached her hands up to his mask. He was too stunned to stop her and only managed to stutter, "What are you doing?"

"Well for one thing," Ahsoka said dryly as she unlatched the helmet. "This is getting on my nerve."

She took the helmet part off and set in down on the table near the door. Then she took off the mask. Two pairs of blue eyes met, and Vader swore she blushed a little. Despite her obvious discomfort though, she reached up and put her fingers through his hair to mess it up out of its flattened state from the helmet.

"That's better," she said softly and then went over to the couch.

The change in her mood was abrupt and obvious. Since Vader had called her out on her obvious attempt to cover up what she was really feeling, she was no longer trying to hide it from him. Instead, she curled up on the corner of the sofa, shivered and then became uncharacteristically quiet. At least now Vader knew he had been right.

"What's wrong?"

"Where's Leia?"

"We got separated," Vader replied humoring her attempt to avoid . "I don't know where she is. I told her to avoid the empire at all cost."

"Why?"

"The emperor knows about Luke and there's a bounty on his head worth three or four fortunes. I'd rather the emperor didn't find out about her connection to him. It's better she stay away for now," Vader replied.

His explanation did nothing for Ahsoka's mood. If anything, it made her mood worse.

She rolled her eyes and snapped cynically, "Well that makes us both unaware of where all your children are. Aren't we the best parents ever?"

Vader looked up at Ahsoka and calmly asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Ahsoka sat up at that. Vader was never calm and if he was, it meant he was trying to keep his volatile temper in check and was about to fail miserably.

"Exactly what it means," she snapped despite herself.

Vader stood up with his arms crossed.

"Start talking," he demanded.

"The alliance arrested me," Ahsoka began. "Mon tricked Leia and Abdul into decrypting and tracing our com signal. If Leia had known I was on one end, she wouldn't have done it so to say the least, she raised hell to the council about it."

Vader made a mental note to put finding Mon as number one on his hit list of people from the rebellion if she hadn't been there before. This was beyond the rebellion now. He now had a personal vendetta against her, but he'd deal with that later.

"Keep going," he said noticing Ahsoka had paused.

"Mon hasn't trusted me for a long time and the only reason she hadn't pressed it was because Bail told her not to, but after he died, she was relentless about it. It was only a matter of time before she learned the truth and I rather not Shmi have been punished for who her father was and she hadn't even met him. She doesn't have Leia's strong convictions yet," Ahsoka said grimly. "She couldn't handle what they would say to out of spite."

Vader raised his eyebrow. "I was under the impression the alliance wouldn't act so."

"So Mon says, but just because the high council may be so honorable and just doesn't mean the rest of the rebellion is. I know. Believe me. Mon's too naïve to think they are. She needs to get off her high pedestal and sit with the common rebel. She'd be shocked what she heard come out the mouth of her perfect and honorable men," Ahsoka said rolling her eyes.

Vader could add bitter to the list of Ahsoka's problems. But it didn't escape him how much he had rubbed off on her. It sounded like something he would have said.

"Anyway, it was only a matter of time before they figured it out, and I didn't want Leia to have to deal with that fallout. She would have killed someone and then she'd be sitting in a cell with me. I didn't know how long it would take you to get to Hoth, so rather than risk it I told Leia to make sure she got away," Ahsoka explained sighing in resignation at the explosion she knew as coming.

"You did what?" Vader said, his temper flaring.

"I sent her away with someone no one where no one would think to look."

"Who?"

"Han."

Vader lost all control then. "You sent our daughter off by herself with that scoundrel."

"She's not by herself. Threepio's with her and Chewie," Ahsoka added.

"That makes it so much better," Vader said before asking, "What were you thinking?"

"I didn't want her to get caught up in the middle of everything," Ahsoka said raising her voice to match Vader's thought it lacked his harshness.

"And you rather her travel space with a thirty year old man?"

"Han isn't bad. I trust him," Ahsoka snapped.

"Just like you trust him enough to think he's an appropriate suitor for Leia," Vader said rolling his eyes. "Now I'm really questioning your parental capabilities."

"They were going to find out! She has two force sensitive parents. She's probably got more potential than Luke or Leia. They were going to put two and two together and then it wouldn't have been just her. It would have been Luke and Leia too," Ahsoka tried to explain.

"Sometimes your stupid Jedi logic amazes me. Always trying to decide the lesser of two evils," Vader snapped.

"Well what did you want me to do," Ahsoka screamed losing all self control she had. "I was scared. I didn't know what they were going to do to me. Treason and consorting with the enemy has the same penalty in the alliance as it does in the empire. I had to send her away. Better lost than hurt and emotionally scarred you insensitive, selfish, uncaring, lowlife monster!"

Ahsoka got stood up off the couch and spun on her heel, heading to the door with the intention to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" Vader demanded catching up to her in three quick strides. He grabbed her arm.

"I'm leaving," she said bitterly with angry tears in her eyes. "I can't stand you. I don't know why I ever missed you. Leave me alone. I hate you"

"You're not going anywhere."

Ahsoka snatched her arm out his grip and opened the door, "Watch me."

She wasn't even halfway down the corridor before Vader caught up with her, grabbed both of her arms and forced her back to his quarters.

"Let me go," she said struggling in vain to get away from him.

"Why?"

"To find Shmi."

"You'll never find her on your own," Vader snapped. "And it's no use being angry about it. It's your own fault."

"What part of I didn't have a choice don't you get you asshole?" Ahsoka asked as he let her go after he secured the door.

She stumbled before she was able to find gain her bearings. Her hand reached for her lightsaber only to find it wasn't there. She cursed. She had left it in her room when the alliance arrested her.

"It wouldn't have been wise for you to try it anyway," Vader said noticing where her hand had gone. "I don't think I'd have the patience left to be merciful to you any longer."

"You have patience?" Ahsoka snapped crossing her arms.

Vader started to make a snide remark until he heard Ahsoka wince. She then clutched her side. Vader looked to where her hand went and all previous anger at her dissipated.

"Now look," he said sighing. "Your wound opened back up."

"I can see that," Ahsoka snapped and then swayed.

Vader steadied her and led her to the couch to lie down before heading to his private room. He stopped at the door and looked back at her.

"Stay here and don't dare try to escape."

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere," Ahsoka muttered hoarsely.

Vader came back shortly having removed the rest of his bulky suit and carried a med kit in his hands.

He tended to her wound silently until Ahsoka reached down and put a hand on his to stop him from rubbing the disinfectant on it as it no doubt burned. He rolled his eyes and gently brushed her hand away.

"I knew you should have stayed put. This is all your fault you know," he said ignoring her wince.

Ahsoka smiled a little. "Well this brings back old memories."

Vader certainly knew what she meant. He had to tend to her wounds many a time during the Clone Wars, usually because she was too stubborn to take it easy after she had already been wounded resulting in the wound getting worse. She once caught a bad infection because of it and he was forced to help her wrestle through a high fever and chills.

"I try not to remember that stuff," Vader finally said.

"Neither do I," Ahsoka admitted. "Sometimes I wonder if I ever really knew you then."

"How come?"

"Whatever relationship we had was based on the war and the Jedi. When it was all over we couldn't relate to anything anymore," Ahsoka said calmly.

Vader sensed the unspoken statement. That was why their relationship fell apart even after she brought him Leia. It wasn't just a Sith and Jedi thing. It was a not knowing each other thing. He frequently pondered the same thing. He never knew she was such a tormented conflicted person until after Leia was born. She always seemed to be battling something, some deeper inner darkness she had that Vader thought could be a valuable asset if she just let go and let someone help her hone it, namely him.

Vader finished tending to her wound and stood up.

"Now rest. And don't argue with me this time."

"No complaints there. I'm exhausted," Ahsoka replied.

"You can move to my room if you want," he suggested. "That couch can't be comfortable."

"It's a good idea but I can't move right now, let alone make it to your room."

Vader's response was to lift her into his arms and move her there himself.

"I should hope you remain there for a while," he said when he laid her down. "I don't want to be forced to sedate you."

Ahsoka only laughed softly and Vader started to leave.

"Hey," she said calling him back.

"What?" he asked.

"I don't really hate you. I was just angry," she admitted. "Sorry."

"I wasn't offended. It's not the first time someone has said it to me," he brushed off. "And I don't mean to be an insensitive, selfish, uncaring, lowlife monster. It just happens."

It was the closest thing to an apology that Vader was going to give. They both knew that and Ahsoka was happy with it.

"Did I really call you that?" Ahsoka asked. That had been harsh.

"Yes. Now anything else you have to say can wait until another time. Rest," Vader said as he left the room, leaving no room for argument.

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AN: This scene wasn't supposed to take up an entire chapter. We were supposed to get a scene with Shmi and Han in it but I ended up making it the next chapter. So there it is and more to come.

Anyway, Hope you enjoyed. Review Please!