"I'm fine," Ahsoka whispered to herself as she walked through Upper Coruscant, though she couldn't quell the nausea gurgling in her stomachs. "It's fine. I'm fine. Just a civilian visiting the temple's outskirts. Nothing wrong with that."

"You need to calm down," Shmi, squeezing the life out of Ahsoka's hand and being utterly unhelpful, said.

Ahsoka bit back a sour remark. "You're right," she said instead. "At this rate, they'll sense us before we even reach the steps!"

"Maybe."

Ahsoka had expected a laugh, maybe even just a courtesy smile, but Shmi was proving to be a hard child to humor. The tyke had a strange attitude and a sturdy set of rules she was very quick to let Ahsoka know. First and foremost, she wouldn't tell her how she knew Anakin, nor why she wanted to see him.

"Are you still sure about this? Again, I cannot stress this enough, there's no guarantee you'll be able to see him."

"Yes there is," Shmi replied plainly. "If you ask him, he'll come. You were a padawan, weren't you?"

I was his padawan, Ahsoka thought with a pang of grief, but all she said was, "Yeah."

They were so close now. Ahsoka felt her heart doing acrobatic leaps in her chest as that familiar set of stairs came into view. The last time she'd been on these steps, she had sworn she'd never return. Barriss, Anakin, the council, everything… it had all shattered so fast.

Why did come here? Why didn't I just send the kid to a guard or anyone else who could help her? The thoughts answered themselves as soon as they flew through her mind: I want to see him again.

They were only a little ways away now. The temple itself loomed ahead like a gate to another world. Ahsoka forced all her focus into moving her legs. Four yards away. Three. The temple guardians standing at the steps had noticed them. Their masks covered their faces but she knew. Two yards away. Shmi tightened her death grip on Ahsoka's hand for just a second, a little pulse of comfort. One yard. Zero.

Ahsoka swallowed. "Hello," she said to the Jedi guard. She'd known these guardians all her life and had never had to speak to them this way before, as an outsider. A citizen. The guard didn't protect her anymore, just something she was no longer able to connect with. "I'm here to see Anakin Skywalker."

The guardians remained still. If they were going to respond, Ahsoka never found out.

"Ahsoka?"

Ahsoka turned, shivers and warmth running through her from the familiar voice. "Obi-Wan?"

"Ahsoka!" Obi-Wan practically dashed down the steps, the fastest Ahsoka had seen him move without actually running. "Ahsoka, it's so good to see you!"

For a moment, she thought he was going to break protocol and hug her. He didn't. That stung more than she thought it would.

"What are you doing here?" Obi-Wan hid it well, but his voice betrayed a glimmer of hope with his question.

Ahsoka bowed her head, a bright smile trumping her sore feelings. "Hello, Master, it's good to see you too. I'm here to see Anakin. Or, rather—" she stepped aside, bringing attention to Shmi "—I'm here to bring this one to see Anakin."

Shmi stepped forward, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and determination. She glanced up at Obi-Wan, her small hand still gripping Ahsoka's.

"Oh? And who might you be, young one?" he asked gently.

"I'm—" Shmi cut herself off, a confused and cautious look scrunching her face. Her eyes darted from Obi-Wan to Ahsoka. "I…"

"This is Shmi," Ahsoka finished for her. It seemed unlike the girl to get nervous saying her name, but Jedi could be intimidating. "Shmi, this is my good friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Don't worry, he's safe. I trust him with my life."

"Shmi?" Obi-Wan's brow knitted. "And she's here to see Anakin, you said?"

"Y-yes." Shmi stepped forward, standing straight as a trooper and making unwavering eye contact with Obi-Wan. "It's a matter of up-most importance."

"Utmost," Ahsoka whispered from the side of her mouth.

Shmi's face went bright red but otherwise remained unmoved. "That's what I meant."

Obi-Wan put a hand on his beard, the way he often did while thinking. "This is… an interesting situation, but I'm afraid it's one that will have to wait to be resolved. Anakin isn't here at the moment."

Ahsoka let her shoulders slump. "Is he on a mission?"

"No, just out and about. I believe he may be spending some time with Padmé before she leaves on her mission to Scipio. He left me a message letting me know that he wouldn't be available for—"

"Ahsoka!"

Anakin came sprinting up faster than Ahsoka could blink. Before she understood what was happening, she found herself wrapped in a crushing hug, feet off the ground and air being squeezed out of her lungs.

"Ahsoka!" Anakin said again. He set her down, allowing her to see the huge, almost goofy smile on his face. "Ahsoka!"

"Yes, Master, we've established that it's me!" Ahsoka grinned, trying to hide how much she needed to catch her breath.

"I'm glad you're here, Anakin," Obi-Wan stated, "But what in the world are you doing back at the temple? Your message said you'd be gone much longer than—"

"I got an alert from Rex," Anakin interrupted, still riding his giddy high. "He said it wasn't urgent, but that it was also very important. Something about a sun? I don't know, and, honestly, I don't care right now. Rex said it could wait, it can wait.

Shmi, forgotten or ignored by everyone but Ahsoka, murmured under her breath, "Luke."

"Luke?" Ahsoka echoed, her eyes narrowing in on Shmi. "Who's Luke?"

Shmi's grip on Ahsoka's hand tightened again, her face a mixture of fear and determination. She looked up at Anakin, who was still grinning obliviously.

"Anakin," Shmi said, her voice trembling but firm. "I need to talk to you."

"Oh. Um, hello? Who are you?"

Ahsoka and Shmi both opened their mouths, but Obi-Wan beat them to it. "That," he said, making eye contact with Anakin in an expression Ahsoka couldn't read, "Is Shmi. Ahsoka brought her here to find you."

Anakin went ridged, stiff and frozen like someone had sucked all warmth out of him. His eyes became stuck on Shmi. The stark contrast to how elated he had been just a few seconds ago made Ahsoka ill.

"Do you know her?" Ahsoka coaxed gently.

"You look just like her," Anakin breathed, ignorant of anything besides Shmi.

Shmi was unfazed. "What did Rex tell you? Where were you going?" she demanded.

Anakin blinked and rubbed his face. He looked pale but answered, "The temple medbay."

"Medbay? Medbay!" Shmi was suddenly animated like a firework. "We have to go now." She grabbed Anakin's hand—he flinched when she touched him—and began tugging him up the temple steps.

"Now, hold on," Obi-Wan interjected. "You can't just go running in there. You need clearance. There's a process for this kind of thing."

"It's the Jedi temple, right?" Shmi frantically, angrily asked.

"Shmi, wait," Ahoska tried to intervene.

Shmi reached under her vest and tugged out her lightsaber, igniting and waving it like it was a badge. "There! I'm a Jedi, see? Now let's go! My brother's in there!"

Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, and Anakin stood there in shock, staring at the deep blue, almost indigo blade. Even the stoic temple guardians turned to see the commotion. A few passersby turned their heads but moved on quickly.

"Brother?" Anakin echoed, his voice barely audible.

Shmi flicked off her lightsaber, an almost sheepish look spending across her face. "Yeah, my brother," she said quietly. "We got separated. He's alone right now and I don't want him to be scared. Can we please go see him?"

Obi-Wan softened at Shmi's plea, the desperation and worry in her voice clear. He exchanged a glance with Ahsoka, who nodded slightly, her expression one of understanding and support.

"Alright," Obi-Wan said, his tone gentler now. Then, firmly, "But I'm going to have a word with your Master after all this is over, padawan. You are seriously out of line."

Ahsoka frowned, shooting a worried look at Shmi, but Shmi just shook her head.

"I'll… I'll tell Rex we're on our way," Anakin muttered.

Anakin fumbled with his communicator, his hands shaking slightly as he sent a quick message to Rex. Ahsoka watched him, her concern growing. This was not the Anakin she knew—the confident, sometimes reckless, but always in control Anakin. This was someone haunted, someone fragile.

Shmi, on the other hand, had regained her composure. She stood tall, her grip on Anakin's hand firm. "We need to hurry," she urged, pulling him insistently up the steps.

Obi-Wan followed closely, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution.

Ahsoka's eyes stayed on Anakin. She could see a tumultuous storm of emotions swirling within him. "Be careful," she whispered to Obi-Wan as he moved to follow Shmi and Anakin inside.

As they entered the temple, Shmi led them through the familiar halls with surprising confidence. Anakin, still clutching her hand, seemed to be walking in a daze. Obi-Wan stayed close, brow furrowed at Shmi the entire time.

They reached the medbay, and Shmi barged in, her eyes scanning the room. "Where is he?" she demanded, her voice trembling with urgency.

A medical droid approached, its mechanical voice calm and soothing. "May I help you?"

"We're looking for a young boy," Shmi said, her tone desperate. "He's 10. Blond hair, probably wearing something frilly and impractical, and he fell from a high place."

The droid's photoreceptors blinked, processing the request. "One moment, please." It turned to access the records, and moments later, it looked back at them. "The boy you are looking for is in Room 3. Follow me, please."

Shmi practically dragged Anakin down the corridor, Obi-Wan close behind. When they reached the room, the door slid open with a soft hiss.

Rex, who had been sitting down, stood at attention. "Generals. And..." he allowed himself a small falter to smile, "Ahsoka."

Shmi shoved past him, running under his legs to get to the bed where a boy about her age was sitting. He smiled at her. The wave of relief that washed over her was palpable even to Ahsoka, who didn't have much practice in sensing emotions.

Rex looked at the trio. "Is she a friend of Luke's?"

"He's her brother, apparently," Anakin responded.

"Apparently? You mean you don't know him?"

"No?" Anakin gave Rex a confused look. "Why would I know him?"

"Oh. I-uh, I thought…" Rex put a hand on the back of his head, glancing awkwardly to the side. "Never mind, sir."

"What?"

Rex took a step back, looking strangely cornered. "It's probably nothing, sir."

"No, tell me," Anakin insisted.

"Well, he said his name was Amidala-Skywalker."

The room became silent.

Silent, that is, apart from Shmi. "You brainless drydak, you told them your name?" She shouted, grabbing her brother's shirt. "Come on, Luke!"

"I was concussed!" The boy, Luke, retorted. "They were clones!"

Shmi tapped Luke on his bandaged head, causing a grunt of pain. "Just because they're clones doesn't mean they're good, stupid"

"Kix is good! Oh, and did I mention I was concussed?"

"I fell way farther than you and I was fine."

"EXCUSE ME," Obi-Wan's voice rang through the crowded room. "What in the blazes is going on here? Who are you two?"

"They're not Jedi," Ahsoka blurted out. "And I don't think Shmi is her real name." Shmi gave her the nastiest glare she'd ever received, and she'd fought Ventress.

"Alright, I've had enough of this," Anakin snapped. "Tell us who and what you are, and no more lies."

"I didn't lie!" Shmi protested.

"But Shmi's not your name?"

"Well, it's not her first name," Luke chimed in, earning another harsh tap from "Shmi."

"Tell. Us. Now," Anakin ordered, almost growling.

"Okay, fine," Shmi raised her hands in defeat. "This was supposed to go a lot smoother but—just don't freak out, okay? You have to promise not to freak out. Like, swear on the Force you won't freak out."

"Just spit it out already!" Anakin yelled.

Shmi straightened herself into what Ahsoka was coming to recognize as her diplomatic pose. "My name is Leia Shmi Amidala-Skywalker. This is my brother, Luke Ben Amidala-Skywalker. Anakin," she took a deep breath, "We're your children."