I don't anything pertaining to the Star Wars franchise.

Enjoy.

...

RECAP:

She's in the Main Hanger.

Why hasn't she left yet? Is she afraid of losing me forever?

...

Lux ran through the long corridors of the temple,like a mad man running from imminent justice. He ignored the glances he got from the people he sidestepped in the hallway. If only they understood his intentions,then they wouldn't judge him so. But they weren't important. His only focus was on Ahsoka and what he was going to say to her.

Lux's mind was racing, his boots were light on the durasteel floors. He could hear nothing but his rapidly beating heart. This physical exertion was nothing compared to what was going on inside of his cranium. Rising above it all, there was only one issue on his frazzled consciousness: how he could phrase what he wanted to say without hurting Ahsoka any further than she already had been. It was a delicate issue. He needed to prepare himself to better combat this pressing problem so that he wouldn't push Ahsoka even farther away than Shili.

So the dark brown haired boy rehearsed several scenarios in his head. He judged the valor of each attempt by how he hypothesized Ahsoka could react.

If we never see each other again..i just want you to know that I will always love you.

But, he didn't know if Ahsoka felt the same way. Was it just a fling ir something worth saving? He didn't know if Ahsoka was as in love with him as he was as smitten with her. He didn't even know if Ahsoka loved him in that way at all. What if her love for him was just a phase?

Lux pushed those thoughts aside as he got ever closer to his destination. He didn't want her knowing that he was thinking that way about her. Besides, she had to love him. Anyways, if she didn't she would've left by now.

He sidestepped a passerby and turned right. He could hear the faint buzzing of a ship coming from that direction.

He was getting close.

...

Ahsoka's POV

I was admiring the ship. There wasn't anything particularly special about the standard durasteel hull. Nothing that stood out in general. Lets face it, I was trying to kill time. Waiting on Lux. Looking for a reason to not leave. Trying to avoid my destiny. Afraid to go the voyage alone. Afraid I would not be accepted by my people. Afraid I would be a poor leader. But, above all, afraid if a new life without any aspects of my old life.

The ship had been ready to go for at least a few hours. It had been tuned up, given an oil change, taken out for a shirt flight, all its internal as well as external systems were checked, and upgraded. The ship may have been ready but I wasn't ready to go. I wasn't ready to take off into a new adventure. Not ready to close a chapter of my life. I wasn't ready to chose between duty and destiny nor love or loyalty.

Why was I so hesitant? I had made up my mind, had been ready to go for hours, had accepted my destiny and had promised to let go of my past life in due time. But how do you learn to forget all the things you've been taught to accept as reality since you were a child. Easy is not always simple.

I wasn't charming and I had no deep connections with my people. I didn't even have the political nor social credentials and connections to run a kingdom. I didn't have the poise, prowess or manners of a princess. In truth I was a soldier, and that's all I have ever been for as long as I could remember. Only recently, had I opened my heart up to the dangerous realm of forbidden love. And even there, I was as warm as a Droid.

Lux probably wasn't even going to come see me off, because of the cruel joke I played on him this morning. I probably scared him off by sending the wrong message. So much for a long term relationship. Well, it didn't matter now, because once I got home I'd receive plenty of suitors and responsibilities to distract me from thinking of Lux fondly anyways. But, still I couldn't help but feel as if he would a part of me regardless.

"Are you ready..Commander Tano?"

It was now or never.

I took one more glance over my shoulder. He wasn't coming. Couldn't help but feel a little hurt.

"Yeah.."

I walked up the boarding ramp towards the ships interior after the clone pilot. Still, holding on to some hope that Lux was coming. I was nearly inside of the ship, when I felt Lux's consciousness brushing against mine.

He loves me.

He came to a stop as he saw me on the top of the boarding ramp. He quickly made his way to the rising ramp.

"Hold the ramp..Ahsoka, there is something I need to tell you.."

I took in his appearance. His hair was tussled and sweat dripped from his brow.

"Stop..soldier."

The ramp stopped and Lux stood at the bottom of the ramp, trying to catch his breathe and remember what he wanted to say. He looked at those baby blues and his mind went blank for a moment.

I put my hands on my hips, staring down at my disheveled boyfriend.

"So, what did you want to tell me?"

Here I was, paying full attention to whatever he needed to tell me. He blinked a few times and shook his hair out of his eyes,before talking.

"I ...uh...I know you send Clipper to stall me, but you knew she couldn't keep me from seeing at least one more time.."

I dangled my legs absentmindedly over the edge of the railing.

"So..tell me something I don't know."

I looked at my nails, flipping them over, before looking at him again.

"I love you, Ahsoka Tano. I have loved you since the first day I saw you. I will love you until the end of time."

I blushed a little. It was something I already knew though.

"I've thought about you for a while, Lux."

He looked discouraged when I didn't respond as he expected.

"Again Lux, please tell me something I don't know."

Lux sighed. His eyes were cloudy. He looked miserable but determined.

"I just want you to know that...I will always be there for you. That I'm happy for you…We all are… even though we will miss you terribly. You won't be ever be alone."

I looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity. But I could also see that he was hiding something from me. He was conflicted.

"You're conflicted...You don't want me to go..."

Lux looked away.

"No...I mean yes! I don't want you to go. I just don't want you to get hurt. I can see it in your eyes. "

"Lux, I'm a Jedi remember. I can handle myself. I don't want to leave either, but as a Jedi I can't be selfish and I can't ignore destiny. I'm not sure if you understand this. "

"I know, but think Ahsoka. Jedi feelings aside...How do you feel about this?"

I paused, turning my gaze from him to the walls.

"I feel conflicted. I feel as if my people won't accept me. Like royalty is not my place. I want my Uncle Roku to take the throne. But my parents had it in the will that I was the primary successor. Lux... I just don't know. What do you think?"

Lux tried to figure out a way to phrase what he was going to say next. He held her hand.

"Follow your heart...What does it say?"

"-that I should stay with you."

I looked into his eyes.

"Your emotions may be clouding your judgment...And I can't help but feel as if this is a trap."

At the mention of a trap, my mind thought of the vision I had when I was meditating in the Council Room. But, no. My uncle wouldn't kill me on purpose. He loved me like the daughter he never had.

"Lux...The only way to know for sure is to spring the trap."

"Well...just in case I never see you again."

Lux looked me in the eyes for a final time, before tilting my head and kissing me.

I was too busy memorizing his taste to feel the promise ring he hastily slipped onto my finger. It seemed like minutes, before he pulled away not wanting to stall the takeoff any further. The clone was tapping his foot.

"Well what are you waiting for, milady. Your Royal Court awaits..."

He bowed, smiling at me watching me as I turned to walk up the ramp. I paused for a moment. There was something I needed to tell him.

"Wait Lux...I...I love you."

It was no louder than a whisper, but I think he heard it. I saw his ear twitch.

"Are you ready for takeoff Commander Tano?"

I watched Lux out of the dark tinted glass until he disappeared out of my view. I took a deep breathe and glanced at the promise ring, before bracing myself for take off.

"Yeah."

I turned my back to my past life and looked towards my future.

...

(A/N: Unbeknownst to Ahsoka, Lux has slipped a tracker in the promise ring he gave her.)

This was a bit of a sappy chapter. Lots of feelings. But, hey. Now we finally get on to the royal business. We get to meet Roku yet again.

Til' next time.

Tess.