Hello everyone! Thanks for the reads and reviews. I do actually need to rectify a mistake from last chapter. Rex calls Padme Senator Amidala. It should be Chancellor Amidala. I've made the changes.

kat-c137 - Thank you! If I'm any good, it comes from writing daily for over two years and the help from my sisters/editors.

LizzyLuna75 - Yes indeed, where did Ahsoka get those bruises HmmmMMMMmmmm. And thank you so much!

Rex had practically ordered Ahsoka to bed after Anakin and Padme left. She hadn't put up much of a fight; the combination of her daily routine in the undercity, the journey here, and the revelations Anakin had given her had left her exhausted. Despite her tiredness, and the exquisite softness of the bed, she had lain awake for hours.

Palpatine was a traitor.

Palpatine was going to have the clones kill the Jedi.

Palpatine was the Sith Lord.

The same thoughts ran over and over in her mind. Finally, her fatigue overcame the mantra and she finally slipped into sleep.

She snapped back to wakefulness as she heard Rex's voice. She couldn't quite make out what he was saying, but he sounded angry. She glanced at the chrono. It was after midnight.

Curiosity got the better of her and she peeked out into the living room. Rex was standing with arms folded and lecturing a sheepish Jesse.

"- there's a curfew for a reason! I don't understand. You never broke curfew this often in the GAR!"

Jesse had caught sight of Ahsoka. Rex noticed his victim's focus change and looked around.

"Look, you even woke up the Commander!" He shot at Jesse.

While Rex was distracted, Jesse mouthed save me at Ahsoka. She raised an eyebrow at him, but walked into the room.

"You're the one who woke me up, Rex." She said. "Save the lecturing for morning."

Rex blinked at her.

"You're probably right. Sorry, Commander."

Jesse moved to make his escape but Rex stopped him.

"Credits, vod." He said.

Jesse groaned and reached into his pocket. He dropped a few credits into Rex's outstretched hands.

"And Fives' share." Rex said.

"Fives is at work!"

"We all agreed on it."

Jesse grumbled as he shoved a few more credits at Rex.

"Do I have to pay the Commander?" He asked.

Rex glanced at Ahsoka.

"Not this time." He said.

"Thanks." Jesse said with a roll of his eyes.

He winked at Ahsoka as he passed her into the back.

Ahsoka turned to Rex when Jesse was gone.

"A curfew, really?" She asked. "What's that all about?"

Rex looked away.

"It makes things," he paused. "Easier for us."

Ahsoka could sense his apprehension and decided to drop the subject.

"It's odd, he didn't seem that drunk for how late he was." Ahsoka commented.

Rex snorted.

"He wasn't out drinking." He said.

"Then what-"

"He was out with a woman he's seeing."

Ahsoka felt her mouth drop open.

"He's seeing someone? "

Rex gave her a sidelong glance.

"Is it that surprising?" He asked. "We're not droids, sir."

"I know that!" Ahsoka said, her cheeks warming. "I guess I never thought about you in relationships before."

It was a lie, but he didn't know that.

"Who is she?" Ahsoka asked.

Rex shrugged.

"Her name's Rhys, I think." He said. "We haven't met her, so I can't tell you much."

Ahsoka frowned and opened her mouth to interrogate him more. Instead she yawned and Rex raised an eyebrow.

"I'm heading for bed." He said. "Goodnight, Commander."

She smiled and patted his shoulder.

"G'night Rex."

The jagged rip in the Force woke Ahsoka up before the yelling did.

Pain. Fear. Suffering.

She scrambled out of bed. Her fingers reached for sabers that weren't there. Her tired mind screamed with confusion. Where were they?

Shame. Guilt. Loathing.

This next wave of emotions propelled her into the hall. She looked around. Her disorientated mind struggled to pinpoint the source.

Fear. Shame. Guilt.

There. Ahsoka didn't think twice before bursting through the door from which such strong pain was coming from. Rex sat bolt upright in bed as she ran into the room.

Loathing. Suffering. Pain.

He was the center of it.

"Rex!" She said.

He looked at her with wide, unseeing eyes. His shoulders heaved.

"Rex, it's me!" She tried again.

Recognition replaced the fear plastered across his face. Slowly his burning emotions ebbed from around him, save one.

Shame. Shame. Shame.

He wasn't looking at her.

"It's- I'm fine." He said between quiet gasps.

Nightmares. Ahsoka knew too well what it was like.

"I-I have them too." She said quietly. "If you want-"

She took half a step forward.

"Commander, please!" His voice was hoarse and pleading.

Ahsoka hesitated only a moment before backing away. He had buried his face in his hands, his entire frame shaking.

The image burned itself into her mind as she turned away to leave him in the dark.

Ahsoka stumbled back to her room. She managed to collapse back onto her bed. She was shaking.

She'd seen clones break. It had been war, and it had been inevitable. But not Rex. Never Rex. Rex was the strong one, unfalliable. A steadfast presence that was always there and unchanging. The only exception had been Umbara.

But he had changed and it disturbed Ahsoka. Were all the clones like this? Were Jesse and Fives like this under their more cheerful exterior?

The idea scared her.

She tried to go back to sleep, but after a while she had to admit defeat. It didn't help that Rex's emotions leaked into her senses. He was having another nightmare, though less intense than the first. Ahsoka made a half hearted attempt to block them out, but doing so felt wrong. It felt like abandoning him. How scared Rex was, the look on his face, it made her sick. So after a while she relaxed her mental shields and allowed his distress wash over her. She'd be there for him one way or another.

Ahsoka peeled herself out of bed when she heard movements in the kitchen. She rubbed at her eyes. She felt almost as bad as the time she had died. What a great way to start her new life.

A quick shower made her feel at least a little better. By the time she went into the kitchen she had managed what she thought to be a believable pleasant morning face.

"Morning Commander." Jesse drawled from his seat at the table.

"Good morning." Ahsoka replied.

She glanced at Rex, who was steadily staring at his mug of caf. A quick probe revealed that he was just as ashamed as the night before. Ahsoka winced internally. She hoped Jesse didn't notice the way Rex was avoiding her eye like it was the blue shadow virus.

Jesse noticed. He raised his eyebrows at his Captain.

"A little quiet this morning, Captain." He commented.

Rex and Ahsoka were both spared by Fives staggering into the apartment.

"Hey Fives." Jesse said. "How was your shift?"

"I've had worse." Fives mumbled.

He started to make his way to the back when Rex cleared his throat.

"You have to eat something, vod." He said.

"Rex, all I want is to go to bed." Fives said with a groan.

He came back over nonetheless and grabbed a meilooran from a bowl on the counter. He gave Ahsoka a tired smile as she moved past him.

"Any new gossip?" Jesse asked.

Ahsoka looked up from her study of the fridger.

"Nah, just repeats of the usual."

Ahsoka brought her blue milk yoghurt over to the table.

"What's the usual?" She asked.

She had been pretty involved in clone gossip during the war, but things could have changed during the last few months. Fives leaned on the table and took a bite of his fruit.

"The main event of last night was the classic 'Jango's still alive, he replaced himself with a clone' theory."

Ahsoka snorted.

"Are you kidding me?" She asked. "That's been around since the beginning of the war. Get new material, people."

"Every new batch of shinies comes in spouting that one like Dogma spouted the GAR rulebook." Fives said with a roll of his eyes.

"Every new batch?" Ahsoka asked.

"Domino squad didn't, if that's what you're asking." Fives said.

"Neither did my batch." Jesse put in.

Rex shook his head. Ahsoka was glad to feel his emotions lighten up a bit.

"Tup believed it, remember?" Fives said.

The way he said it, and the way Rex and Jesse immediately looked down, let Ahsoka know that something had happened to Tup.

"Yeah." Jesse said. "Took us weeks to convince him Cody wasn't secretly Jango."

Fives smiled wistfully. Ahsoka remembered with a pang that Fives had been close with the younger trooper. Suddenly Fives' eyes brightened.

"There was a trooper that was convinced that Wolffe's eye can see through armor." He said. "Said that Wolffe sees everyone naked and that's why he's so grumpy."

Jesse burst out laughing and Rex snorted hard. Ahsoka joined with Jesse.

"I don't see why that makes him grumpy." Ahsoka choked out.

"How would you feel if you were surrounded by your own naked body all the time?" Fives said with a grin.

Ahsoka laughed harder, but she could feel a flush rising in her cheeks.

"I dunno what he'd be complaining about." Jesse said between gasps of laughter. "We're kriffing sexy."

"Fives! Jesse!" Rex barked.

Jesse and Fives immediately straightened up and stopped laughing. Rex inclined his head at Ahsoka. She knew he was giving them 'captain' eyes.

"Er, sorry Commander." Jesse said with a sheepish grin.

Ahsoka shrugged. She'd heard the same and worse in the under city. Not that she ever got quite used to it.

Fives cleared his throat.

"A couple of shinies nearly got into a fist fight on whether you dyed your hair, Rex."

Ahsoka started laughing again while Rex just groaned and put a hand to his head.

"How many times do I have to tell the men?" He said. "It's a mutation!"

"They don't believe you." Fives said with a smirk. "They think you're trying to make yourself special."

"Like the jaig eyes, ARC status, Captain ranking, single pauldron, and your special blasters don't already do that." Jesse counted off on his fingers.

Rex gave them another look. Jesse just sipped his caf.

"I'm still convinced General Skywalker started that rumor." Fives said.

"Nah, it was Cody." Jesse said.

"I don't know if he started it, but Anakin wasn't helping." Ahsoka told them. "He told me when I first was apprenticed that Rex wasn't a natural blonde."

Fives and Jesse both hooted with laughter while Rex looked genuinely hurt for a moment.

The chrono chimed and Ahsoka swore.

"Kriff, I need to get to Anakin's."

"We can drop you off." Rex said, getting up. "Jesse and I need to get going too."

Jesse groaned but pushed himself out of his chair.

"Thanks." Ahsoka said as she shoveled the rest of her breakfast into her mouth. "Fives, you owe me some stories when we get home."

It had been the wrong thing to say. Fives' face immediately darkened and he looked away.

"Yeah." He muttered. "Maybe."

Ahsoka felt herself droop. Jesse steered her towards the door.

"Bye, vod." He called over her shoulder.

Fives gave a weak smile and a half hearted wave as they left.

"I wouldn't pester him about it." Rex said. "He'll tell you when he's ready.

Fives leaned back into his chair. Of course she wanted to know. Everyone wanted to know.

Fives supposed the Commander deserved to know more than most, but after being pestered by senators, reporters, and even vod'e for months, he'd rather no one ever mention the event again.

He closed his eyes. That was a mistake. Images of Palpatine's contorted, sneering face flashed across his mind. That snarling, evil voice grating out the words.

Execute Order 66.

What if they hadn't removed the chips? What if when his vod'e had turned their blasters on the Jedi, it wasn't to fool Palpatine? When Fives had pulled the trigger, what if it hadn't been aimed at the Sith?

He rammed the heels of his hands into his eyes, trying to push away the thoughts. The plan had worked. Palpatine was dead. Fives' shot had been precise. And the General had made sure the traitor was dead. Multiple times.

Fives forced himself to his feet and wandered to make a cup of caf. He needed to stay awake now, no matter how his eyes pricked with tiredness. He chugged the black liquid, even though it was scalding. The temperature helped chase away the sleep.

Fives drug a hand down his face. Forcing himself to stay awake helped stave away the nightmares, but it left him with something almost worse. Boredom.

Which was bad, because there was nothing to distract him from the black thoughts that leaked into his mind.

"That long-necked gravel maggot!" Ahsoka spat as soon as she, Padme, and Anakin entered a Senate side chamber.

"Please, Ahsoka." Padme chided as Anakin helped her to a chair.

Ahsoka grit her teeth and swallowed back the other, much worse insults that threatened to overflow.

"I know how you feel, Snips." Anakin put in as he dropped into a seat. "But honestly, the best thing we can do about it is make sure Padme can do her job."

Ahsoka blinked. That was not the response she was expecting.

"Since when did you get so wise?" Ahsoka asked.

Anakin looked offended.

"I've always been wise." He protested.

Padme let out a little snort. Anakin made a wounded noise.

"My own wife turns against me." He grumbled.

Ahsoka moved to the window and tried to calm herself.

"He's late." She heard Anakin mutter to Padme.

"I know." Padme whispered back. "It must be something to do with the council."

Ahsoka was about to ask who they were talking about when the Force sparked. A familiar, welcome presence washed over her. Ahsoka turned to the door, hoping.

"There he is." Anakin said with a smile.

There was a tap at the door.

"Come in!" Padme called.

The door opened and Master Plo Koon walked in. Ahsoka had a jolt of nervousness. Master Plo had been supportive when she had decided to leave the Order, but time could have changed things.

The fear was completely removed when Plo saw her. A wave of pure joy crashed into her. By the time she had recovered, Plo had crossed the room and folded her into a hug.

"Little Soka!" He rumbled. "It is good to see you well."

Ahsoka hugged him back with relief. He hadn't become bitter towards her.

"It's good to see you too, Master." Ahsoka said into his shoulder.

"I have something for you." Plo said as he pulled away. He removed a small case from his robes and handed it to her. Ahsoka took it from him. Her heart beat with anticipation and hope. She cracked the case open. Her lightsabers sat nestled inside. She took one and ignited the green blade. It was just as she remembered.

"Thank you, Master." She said softly as she extinguished the saber.

"I knew you would return to us." Plo replied.

She looked up at him a little nervously.

"I didn't come back to return to the Order."

Plo projected a soothing understanding.

"I know, Little 'Soka." He put his hand on her shoulder.

She remembered the day she had chosen to leave the order.

"I have had many dreams concerning your future, little one. There were so many paths your life would take. So many tragedies." He had said as she said goodbye to him on the Temple steps.

His talons on her hands had tightened. "No, it is good that this is your fate." He had whispered. "I would choose this for you over all the others."

Now he was looking down at her with gentle pride, though she had no idea what he had to be proud of. That she was alive?

"I'm not supposed to have these, then." Ahsoka said.

"I see no reason for the council to know." There was a mischievous lilt to his voice.

"Master Plo, you're on the council." Anakin piped up.

"Not as of this morning." Plo replied.

The room froze.

"What?" Ahsoka finally choked out.

"The council asked me to stop my involvement with the clones." Plo said as if he was mentioning that he ran into an acquaintance. "I refused."

"This isn't ideal." Padme said with a groan. "Having a member of the council on our committee gave us a lot of legitimacy."

"What the kriff are they thinking?" Anakin said. "Obi Wan's still involved with the 212th, and he's not been kicked off the council!"

He glanced at Plo.

"Has he?"
"No, he has not." Plo said. "However, he is not a leader in the coalition fighting for the clones."

"He's still pretty involved." Anakin muttered.

"If it is any consolation, I believe Master Kenobi will be removed soon as well."

Ahsoka's jaw dropped.

"What is wrong with them?" She sputtered. "Anakin was married for years and they didn't do anything! Now they're kicking people off the council because they won't stop being involved with their men?"

"There have been some changes in the council's views since the end of the war, 'Soka." Plo said. "Our near destruction has made certain members of the council- er- paranoid."

Ahsoka could guess which members.

"They believe the Jedi Order have become too involved with the politics of the Republic." Plo went on. "Which I would not disagree with."

"So they decided that they needed to just not do anything!" Anakin cut in.

"They have decided to remove themselves from most public issues." Plo restated.

Ahsoka frowned. The idea felt wrong to her. Not just because she wanted the clones to have as much support as possible, but the Force seemed to shrink away from the concept.

"That's not right." She said slowly as Plo took a seat. "You can feel it too, right? It's not the will of the Force."
She felt a soft feeling of surprise from Plo.

"Yes." He said. "Few of the Jedi can feel it, but I truly believe that the Force does not wish for us to abandon these men."

At that moment there was another knock, and Senator Organa came in at Padme's invitation.

"I'm sorry I'm late." He said. "That call took longer than I expected."

"It's all right, Bail." Padme said. "We haven't started discussing anything yet. How are things at the factories?"

Bail shook his head.

"I have bad news." He said. "The factory owners have been all but ignoring the safety regulations again."

Padme frowned.

"We'll just have to plan more inspections then."

"Unfortunately, that will not work." Plo spoke up. "Those regulations are all specifically designed to protect sentient creatures. The law does not yet recognize the clones as such."

Ahsoka had to stifle another shout of anger. It sounded like the factory owners were treating clones as droids. Padme groaned and drew a hand down her face.

"We'll have to make more concessions." Padme muttered. "At this rate they'll be operating those factories tax free!"

She, Bail, and Plo began discussing what possible concessions they could make to the factory owners.

Ahsoka sidled up to Anakin.

"It's not as bad as they're making it out to be, is it?" She whispered.

Anakin's shoulders slumped.

"It's worse, Snips."

Ah yes. Clone racism. Funny thing, I named Rhys, Jesse's love interest, forgetting that there was a clone named Rys. Which may have confused some people in my one shots. Rhys is different from Rys the clone. I apologize for any confusion.

Anyway, wear your masks, remember to review, and have a great two weeks!