WARNING: this chapter gets a bit spicy... oops.

INT. COOL AREA ON RESOLUTE - HYPERSPACE - NIGHT

Rex sits in a cool nook of the Resolute, a place where he can sit on the stairs and watch the hyperspace lines fly past the window.

Rex stares into space. He doesn't even hear Ahsoka walk in the room. He jumps as she sits down next to him.

AHSOKA
Am I interrupting you?

REX
(shakes head)
No.

Rex stares out at the moving hyperspace lanes, enjoying the quiet. Ahsoka looks back and forth between Rex and the blurred stars.

AHSOKA
Do you come here often?

REX
You caught me.

Rex turns to look at Ahsoka. He gives her a small smile and then looks back into space, lost in thought.

AHSOKA
Is something wrong?

REX
Nothing more than usual. Just... thinking about... the brothers I lost.

Ahsoka slides closer to Rex and snakes an arm around his waist. Rex sighs and leans his head against hers.

REX
All those lives lost... and for what?

Ahsoka wraps her other arm around his stomach, holding him closer. Rex still leans against her head, looking out at the stars.

REX
It never gets easier.

AHSOKA
(quietly)
I know.

Rex pulls back to look at Ahsoka, his hands lingering on her side. He stares into her beautiful eyes. She stares back. He breathes in and out, enjoying the moment, but something inside him can't help but glance down at her lips. He quickly looks back into her eyes.

Ahsoka notices and snakes her hands around the back of his neck. She plants a kiss on his lips that takes his breath away. She breaks apart and glides her lips along his smooth skin, kissing his cheek, then up to his temple, his forehead, and down to his nose. Rex closes his eyes and bites his lip, holding back a sigh.

Ahsoka moves her lips to his again, surrounding him in a warm embrace. Rex takes the cue and copies Ahsoka, moving his lips to her cheek, then her temple, forehead, and nose. Ahsoka's fingers dance happily along his back as he kisses her.

Rex presses his lips against Ahsoka's, but Ahsoka moves her lips just under his jawline. Rex tenses up. Ahsoka moves her lips further up his jawline just under his ear. Rex gasps and stands up, his face a slight shade of pink.

Rex puts a hand behind his neck and paces back in forth in front of Ahsoka. He looks like he's debating with himself on what to do. Ahsoka stares at him curiously.

Rex stops in the middle of the walkway. He turns to Ahsoka and gazes at her. After a moment, he cautiously sits down next to her.

REX
(mumbling)
I've never done that before.

Ahsoka gazes at his face with bright eyes.

AHSOKA
Me neither.

Rex fidgets in place. He leans over and puts his arms over his knees.

REX
I think we should talk about... our future.

Ahsoka leans back on her hands.

AHSOKA
Okay. What's on your mind?

REX
Um...

Rex looks over at Ahsoka. He then looks down at the floor. His face flushes pink again.

REX
(mumbling)
I don't want to take things too fast.

Ahsoka sits up straight.

AHSOKA
I feel the same way.

REX
You do?

AHSOKA
(looks down)
Sorry if I got carried away just then. I should've asked.

REX
No, it's okay.

Ahsoka meets Rex's gaze.

REX
I don't want to get caught, and... I don't want to ruin our friendship.

Ahsoka smiles and takes his hand in hers.

AHSOKA
You could never ruin our friendship, Rex.

REX
(small smile)
But if things got out of hand-

AHSOKA
-That won't happen.

Rex looks at Ahsoka with amusement and surprise.

REX
I'm glad you're so confident, but... I think we need some boundaries. I don't want to hurt you.

Ahsoka looks into his face longingly.

AHSOKA
Rex, I don't believe you'd ever hurt me.

REX
If we went too far, yes.

Ahsoka turns to look the stars flying past.

AHSOKA
That won't happen for a long time.

REX
How do you know that?

AHSOKA
We'll save that for... after the war?

Rex raises his eyebrows. It's actually a good idea, considering the war could go on for years.

REX
Okay.

AHSOKA
But I still get to kiss you anytime I like.

REX
As long as no one sees.

Ahsoka looks at Rex and smiles at him with a wide grin.

AHSOKA
This is a good idea.

Rex smiles back at her.

REX
I agree.

Ahsoka and Rex gaze into each other's eyes.

INT. MESS HALL - NIGHT

Fives sleepily slumps into the Mess Hall. He grabs a cup of caf and sits down. All the tables are empty. He stares into space, head nodding off. He closes his eyes.

Only to be woken up by the sound of Barriss' voice.

BARRISS
Fives?

Fives jumps a mile and nearly spills his caf. He forgot she was on board for this mission.

FIVES
What?

Barriss sits down next to Fives with her own cup of caf.

BARRISS
Couldn't sleep either?

Fives gives her a look. Of course, or else he'd be in bed.

FIVES
What do you want?

BARRISS
(gazes off)
What do you think about the Republic's opinion on the war?

Fives scratches his head. His eyes look like he's in pain. What is she asking at this hour of the night?

FIVES
What?

BARRISS
Personally, I find it fascinating that the Republic seemed to suddenly appear on Geonosis with an army.

FIVES
Hey, some of my brothers were there-

BARRISS
-I know. I'm not trying to pry, but you don't even find it the slightest bit curious that when we most needed an army, we had one in an instant?

Fives shrugs his shoulders. It's too early for this.

BARRISS
I think the Republic has a lot of questions to answer.

The wheels start turning in Fives' head.

BARRISS
Don't you find it curious?

FIVES
I've never really thought about it before.

Fives looks into her eyes for the first time since she walked through that door. Barriss leans in slightly closer.

BARRISS
Never?

Fives gazes at her face. He's never really looked hard at her before. She's more beautiful than he realized.

FIVES
Never.

Barriss stares back with her mouth hanging slightly open. Fives looks at her lips. He then coughs and stands up.

FIVES
Thanks for talking to me. I think I'm tired now. I hope you are, too. Uh... Goodnight.

Fives tries to walk casually out the door. Barriss hides a smile behind her hand.

INT. MED BAY - NIGHT

Echo lies in a bed in the Med Bay, clutching his stomach. Kix walks out of his office with a beautiful lavender skinned Twi Lek. She wears a medic's outfit and has tan splotches on her skin. They approach Echo's bed.

KIX
This is the new nurse I was talking about, Echo. Meet Aleyna.

Echo sits up in his bed and gazes into her teal eyes. He continues to stare at her, his mouth dropping slightly open.

ALEYNA
Hi, Echo.

Echo continues to stare. He realizes his mouth is hanging open and quickly shuts it.

KIX
I'm training her so she'll be helping you out tonight. How bad did you say that stomach ache was?

ECHO
What stom- Oh! It's bad.

Echo nods his head and clutches his stomach again, the pain coming back to his senses.

ALEYNA
Well, I recommend you take this.

Aleyna gives Echo a packet of meds. He takes them from her hand, his fingers gliding against hers.

ALEYNA
You should be better in the next hour or so.

ECHO
Thank you.

Echo stands up from the bed. He can't take his eyes off Aleyna. She nods politely and walks back into Kix's office.

Kix stares at his brother with a smug look on his face.

KIX
You like her.

ECHO
(gulps)
Wow.

KIX
(laughs)
I told you you'd find another girl.

Echo stiffens up as a serious look covers his face.

ECHO
I'm not falling for someone again.

KIX
(crosses arms)
Why?

ECHO
Because...
(looks down)
I got hurt last time.

Kix pats Echo on the shoulder.

KIX
This one's different, trust me.

Echo looks hopefully into Kix's eyes.

KIX
You should get to know her better. You'd like her.

ECHO
(looks down)
Maybe I just need a break for a little while.

KIX
(sincerely)
Okay. She'll be around if you change your mind.

ECHO
(smiles)
Thanks, Kix. Tell her I said thanks for this, too.

Echo holds up the meds. Kix smiles and nods at Echo, walking back into his office.

Echo takes a deep breath and stands up confidently. He walks out the door, quickly getting lost in a daydream about Aleyna.

Author's Note: Stay tuned for a hilarious chapter I have coming up! I'm so excited for it. More to come about Rex and Ahsoka and the other newer-ish-upcoming relationships!