It had been a full ten years. Ten long, hard years since she first responded and took on the mantle of Fulcrum. Yet, despite being ten years older, she did not quite feel ten years wiser.

At twenty-eight years of age, Ahsoka had found her place within the Rebel Alliance. Although sometimes she had a nagging feeling that there was something bigger that required her attention, she had learned to quell that urge and continue working towards her current goals. Sometimes that goal was to perform essential recon. Sometimes that goal was to search for survivors and recover innocent civilians.

At the moment, she was not taking on any active missions. After taking a minor hit to the ankles during a recent mission ("I'm fine Kaeden, really"), she was forced to stay under house arrest for a few weeks. Well, not really forced to, since nobody had arrested her. It was more that Kaeden had ordered her to stop taking on missions and stay at home with her for a while.

If she was still the same rebellious teenager that she had been ten years ago, she would probably have complained that there was nothing for her to do and sneaked out anyway. But this was different. Kaeden had asked her to stay home. And so, for the first time in her life, Ahsoka agreed to take a vacation. A small break from going on life-threatening missions.

"But you're still taking on work," she whined.

"You are also part of my work," Kaeden had replied. After seeing Ahsoka's face, she smirked and changed tone. "I mean, taking care of you is also my job," she teased. "That's why, as a licensed medical professional, I order you to stay home and rest with me. For at least a week."

Ahsoka frowned. "I don't want to be a burden to you," she murmured.

"You're so self-sacrificing," Kaeden rolled her eyes. "What if I just want to keep you all to myself because I'm greedy like that?"

Ahsoka blinked. "Oh," she said. "I didn't realize...I thought, you would be staying because you have no other choice," she trailed off guiltily.

Kaeden narrowed her eyes. "Don't be stupid," she chided her, and for a second, it felt like they were teenagers again. "I want to stay at home with my partner. Ankle or not, you have no choice."

Ahsoka blinked, then realization dawned on her and she smirked. "Oh, okay," she grinned mischievously. "Well, in that case, I'm all yours."

And so, a few days ended up turning into one week, then two weeks, then three weeks. The first few days, Kaeden had specifically taken off time to spend together. Those days made staying at home worth it. They spent most of that time eating and talking, or just lying on the couch together. At some point, Ahsoka stirred and found Kaeden leaning against her with her head tucked into the crook of her right shoulder. She had taken her hair out of its usual braids, and it was spilling over her shoulder, full and curly and fluffy. She debated whether she should rearrange her into a more comfortable position or just go back to sleep, not wanting to accidentally wake her. Ultimately, she decided to pull the blanket higher over their shoulders so that they were both fully covered. After making sure that Kaeden was properly tucked in, she wrapped her right arm around her and went right back to sleep. She thought she also felt Kaeden grasp her hand and squeeze it in her sleep, but she was too drowsy to care. During those first few days, the only concerns she had were being as warm and safe as possible while also spending every waking moment with Kaeden.

After those first few days, however, it became clear that Kaeden was needed. Yet her ankle injury was not fully healed. To appease her, she told Kaeden that she could return to work without her. "I'll be fine," she assured her. "I'll just sit here and wait for you, like the real housewife you always wanted," she would tease.

At the time, Kaeden laughed along with her, but something about her expression became more serious. "Promise you won't accept any more work, Ahsoka. Not until your leg is fully healed."

"I'll be alright, really," Ahsoka told her. When Kaeden still wouldn't leave, she laughed out aloud. "It's just a minor sprain, really. I can walk just fine."

Kaeden lingered in the doorway, unconvinced.

"I'll be okay, I promise," Ahsoka finished.

Kaeden sighed. "I love you," she reminded her.

Ahsoka smiled back. "I love you too!"

Kaeden shook her head. "Sometimes, it's hard to tell." Ahsoka fell silent for a moment, then Kaeden stuck out her tongue and the two of them burst into laughter.

Since then, she was left alone in the house for most of the day. On occasion, whenever she could, Miara would call her through the holoprojector to chat. But Miara had responsibilities of her own. Being part of the rebel air force kept her busy, and she could not say where she was most of the time. In a way, she reminded Ahsoka of herself from when she was younger, sporting the title of Commander and walking around as if she knew everything about the universe.

Well, that time is long gone, she thought bitterly to herself. Best to let the past stay in the past. Maybe this vacation might even be a good thing for me.

She knew that she still planned to stay with the Rebel Alliance for a while. There was so much more that she still wanted to accomplish.

And yet, at the same time, she couldn't help but feel empty inside. As if there was something else that was calling out to her. Something that no amount of recon or rescue missions would fix.

What is it that you want, Ahsoka? The voice inside her head kept whispering. Do you want to keep going on missions forever? Or do you want to retire and stay at home with Kaeden? Or is there something else, someone else that you're waiting for?

Ahsoka closed her eyes and hugged her knees to her chest.

Ahsoka.

Ahsoka?

Ahsoka...

The voices still called out to her. She continued to ignore it.

When Kaeden was there, she was able to suppress it. The urge to reach out, to use the Force, to call out for the people that she knew would never answer. Kaeden had always been perceptive and immediately asked her what was going on. She could tell that there was something on her mind, something bothering her. At first, Ahsoka had tried to wave it off, justifying it by saying that they probably weren't going to know each other for much longer. But Kaeden disagreed. She continued to hold onto Ahsoka, to stay in her life, to push her to be more open and openly express their feelings to each other. Whatever it was that was haunting her, Kaeden insisted that they could deal with it together. No matter how embarrassing or painful it was, Kaeden always insisted on sharing the burden together.

At times, it worried Ahsoka. Because there was always that feeling in the back of her mind that someday she might not be able to see either Kaeden or Miara ever again. But still, she continued to give in and allowed Kaeden to coax her out of her shell. She told her about Anakin and Obi-Wan and the Jedi. She wouldn't tell her the full details about her missions, but when it came to the past, there were no secrets between them.

Kaeden pushed her to be more open with her, and so Ahsoka fell into the habit of asking her for help. Of being soft and vulnerable in front of her. Of accepting kisses and hugs. Then eventually, slowly but surely, she started to initiate them herself. Until they were at the sort of stage where you could say they were partners.

Sort of, Ahsoka thought ruefully.

She knew that Kaeden had been wanting to get married for a while.

I never really considered myself much of a marriage person, Kaeden had said. I'm not crazy about weddings. But sometimes when I see other humans wearing their "wedding rings" and talking about their spouses...some part of me wishes that I could show you off like that. Don't you want that too? To forever be united together? Even if we were to die, at least we could say that we were always one, so that nothing could separate us.

She did want it. Really badly, in fact. Every part of her wanted badly to belong to Kaeden, and to show the world that Kaeden was hers. But for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to say the word or tie herself completely to her.

Perhaps it was because of their professions, where they saw multiple families torn apart by the Empire, and where nobody could guarantee their own survival. Or maybe it was because deep down, she knew that all of the people who she would've wanted to be at a major event like her wedding were dead, gone, or...

Ahsoka squeezed her eyes shut.

No, don't go to that place. I don't want you to hurt yourself, Kaeden's voice chided her.

It was hard not to. To not reopen the scars of the past and lose herself in them completely. But she did it because Kaeden had asked her to. Because, no matter how many ghosts wanted to drag down Ahsoka Tano with them, Kaeden wanted her, right now, in the present. And she would do anything to make her happy. So for her, Ahsoka tried to stay afloat. Even when it was just her by herself.

But staying afloat was hard. She felt exhausted, like she had been swimming against the current for ten years.

And so, when she finally received the call from Senator Organa with the promise of a new mission, she did not hesitate to answer. She could have let it continue to ring and pretended that she was still sleeping off her injury. But, for reasons that only her heart could fathom, Ahsoka found herself reaching for the holoprojector and responding.

"Hello, Senator Organa. Is everything alright?"

There was a pause before he finally responded to her.

"Ahsoka...forgive me, but I can't ask anyone except for you. I need your help really badly right now."

"Of course, Senator Organa," Ahsoka replied calmly. "Anything, just tell me what you need from me."

"It's urgent. My daughter Leia and General Kenobi's lives depend on it."

Asoka's eyes widened and she nearly dropped the remote to the holoprojector.

"What did you say?" Ahsoka asked shakily.

Her hands were trembling so hard that she feared she had lost control of them. Her heart in particular would not listen to her. It throbbed violently and arrhythmically, threatening to thud its way out of her chest. She felt nauseous, as if she might vomit. Part of her wanted to scream and jump with joy, but every other bone in her body was telling her that this was not good news.

"Please, Ahsoka, can you promise me you'll help?" Senator Organa begged. "I'll do anything, as long as you-"

"No, I promise nothing," she gasped, backing away and standing up straight. "Repeat what you just said."

"I'll do anything-"

"Not that part!"

Senator Organa blinked, confused.

"Did you just say Master Kenobi is still alive?" Ahsoka panted.

Senator Organa bowed his head ruefully.

"Yes," he murmured. "Although for how much longer... I'm not sure."