Bonus Chapter: Ahsoka

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: This was totally a spur of the moment thing. Lol. But I love how it turned out, and it's a shame I didn't think to write it earlier when I was still writing this fanfic. Anyways, enjoy! :) And it was inspired in part by a couple reviews I got on A03. ;)

This happens after Chapter 12 but before Chapter 14. :)

~ Amina Gila


"Master Yoda, you sent for me?" Ahsoka queries, seating herself before the Grandmaster of the Order. It's been two days since Obi-Wan returned from Naboo, and she saw the new Sith, two days in which she's agonized over the secret Anakin entrusted her with before his departure. Every time she's thought about it, she's reached the same conclusion; she won't tell Obi-Wan the truth, because Anakin trusted her, and frankly, she's furious with her grandmaster.

"Wish to speak with you I do about a replacement master," Yoda declares unperturbedly, ears twitching as he looks up at her. "Until find Skywalker we do, another master you should have."

Ahsoka does her best not to scowl. "I don't want another master," she gripes. "It's only been a couple weeks. Can't I wait longer before making a decision?"

"Wait you may," Yoda agrees immediately, studying her with an expression that seems far too knowing. "Volunteered to accept you, masters Kenobi and Plo have. A choice you will have to make."

She exhales slowly, closing her eyes for a moment in a failed attempt to locate a semblance of calm. She feels far too edgy right now, and the only thing which might rectify that is news from Anakin. "If I must choose," she says finally, "I would pick Master Plo." Plo was the one who brought her to the Temple as a youngling, and she's not ashamed to admit being attached to him. Since he was not allowed to take her as a Padawan, she knows the feeling is mutual. While she knows Obi-Wan well, she's too angry at him for the deception to even consider him a viable candidate. That's something she'll have to deal with, but for now, she'll continue ignoring him.

Yoda hums quietly. "Worried you are for your master," he states suddenly.

"What?" she blurts out, eyes widening. "I – I mean, of course, I am. No one knows anything…" She lets her voice trail off before she accidentally says something she doesn't mean to. She never discussed with Obi-Wan how he felt – since it was obvious that he was upset – and nor did she ask about the Council's opinions.

"Unknown his whereabouts still are," Yoda comments. Is it just Ahsoka, or is he really studying her very carefully? "Captured or in hiding he is." Well, okay. So much for his death being believable. "Surprised you are not," the Grandmaster continues, sounding as though he's confirmed a suspicion. "Knew you did that dead your master was not. Told you he did."

"I – I –" Ahsoka scrambles to come up with something to say to cover for Anakin, but she doesn't know what she could say which wouldn't make the situation worse. Maybe it's time for some of the truth. "Yes," she confesses finally. "I don't know where he was going, but he didn't want me to tell anyone. Can you – can you not tell Master Kenobi?"

Yoda studies her, ears twitching slightly. "Tell no one I shall," he decides at last. "Confess the truth Skywalker must himself."

"Thank you, Master," she whispers, heart pounding. She doesn't want to betray Anakin's trust, to prove that she's incapable of concealing something as crucial as this.

They sit in silence for several long moments. "Visit Senator Amidala you should," Yoda suddenly tells her. "Friends she is with Skywalker." There's a weird emphasis on the word friends, which makes Ahsoka wonder if Yoda also suspects that there's something more between the two of them. She wouldn't be surprised if he does. He notices things like that.

"Of course, Master," she readily agrees, smiling slightly as she rises and bows before taking her leave from his quarters. It's later in the afternoon, so she hopes – assumes – that Padme will be at her apartment. If she doesn't know the truth, Ahsoka wants to tell her. She definitely deserves it.

She lands on the platform unnoticed and hops out of the speeder, approaching the front door. Threepio opens it almost immediately. "It is so good to see you," he rambles. "Mistress Padme is inside, working on some documents for the Senate."

"Thank you, Threepio," Ahsoka replies politely, slipping past him and entering the living room where Padme is sitting, a multitude of datapads in front of her. "Hello, Senator."

To her credit, Padme doesn't seem too startled by Ahsoka's appearance, face lighting into a smile as she rises. "Ahsoka, I'm glad to see you."

"You as well," Ahsoka answers. "I wanted to see how you were doing. You know, with everything going on with Master Kenobi and then with Anakin."

Padme's smile dims, but only slightly, though it seems much more strained now. "Yes," she murmurs, sighing heavily. "I'm well enough. I won't pretend to understand why Master Kenobi did what he did seeing how much of an impact it's had on all of us."

Ahsoka's good mood practically vanishes as the pangs of hurt spear through her again. She drops gracelessly into a chair as Padme seats herself on the couch once more. The dull ache is tearing at her, and part of her wants to break into sobs at the unfairness of it all. Why did he have to do it? Why did he have to lie to them? Even Anakin had the courtesy of warning her first.

"I get that it was for a mission, for the good of the Republic, but he lied to us!" Ahsoka bursts out, horrified to feel tears welling up. "He's hardly said a word to me about it even though he's been back for a few days. I mean I get it. He's being distracted by the things with Anakin, but – but I don't even know."

Padme exhales slowly, compassion on her face. "It's alright to feel like that, Ahsoka. Don't tell yourself it's not. I'm going to have words with Obi-Wan about this, because if not for what he did, Anakin would… be here."

Ahsoka doesn't miss the way she hesitates at the end of her sentence, and immediately becomes suspicious. "You know," she states simply, a feeling of overwhelming relief rushing through her. "You know about him."

Padme smiles slightly and nods. "I'm glad he told you too. Do you know anything?"

"Probably not more than you," she confesses with a shrug. "Maybe even less."

"Come here," Padme offers, patting the seat beside her. Ahsoka gratefully rises and moves to sit next to her friend, pulling her legs up to get more comfortable. "He's going to come back," Padme all but promises. "No force in the galaxy short of death could keep him away."

Ahsoka can't help but smile at her words. "I know," she agrees softly. "I know."

Padme wraps an arm around her, hugging her to her side. "Do you have any suspicions about what he may be doing?"

Ahsoka ponders the question before shaking her head. "I have no idea. He didn't say anything which would give me a clue. All I could gather was that it's presumably important to the future of the Republic."

The Senator nods thoughtfully, but before she can say anything, Threepio enters the room and announces that Obi-Wan is here to talk to Padme. In a flash, Ahsoka can feel herself closing off, and next to her, Padme stiffens almost imperceptibly. "Send him in," she instructs quietly, exchanging a look with Ahsoka. Without exchanging even a word, they manage to silently agree to protect Anakin's secret and chew out Obi-Wan for his deception.

After a few moments of tense silence, Obi-Wan steps into the room, none of the surprise at Ahsoka's presence visible on his face, though Ahsoka can still clearly feel it. "Master Kenobi, it's good to see you," Padme says politely, though she doesn't stand to greet him. She has what Ahsoka would term a politician's mask affixed on her face.

Obi-Wan nods. "I wanted to speak to you," he replies, gaze lingering on Ahsoka. "I didn't expect to see you here," he adds, to Ahsoka.

"Please, have a seat," Padme offers. "Tell me what's on your mind." He sinks onto the chair, and for a second, Ahsoka can see a flicker of pain and grief on his face which is gone when he looks up. It sends a pang of guilt through her which she squashes. Much as she might dislike what she has to do, she won't betray Anakin's trust.

"I know you were close with Anakin," Obi-Wan begins haltingly, his words obviously directed mainly at Padme. "I never expected my actions to have this result."

Padme's expression hardens. "Yes," she concedes coolly, "I'm sure you didn't, but you used him. Do you have any idea how that would have made him feel? How do you think he would have reacted when he learned the truth? He trusted you more than anyone not to betray him, not to hurt him, and that's exactly what you did. Do you really expect he would forgive you as though nothing happened?"

Obi-Wan actually flinches. "I was going to explain it to him when I got back," he protests. "I did it for the Chancellor."

Ahsoka doesn't quite manage to hold back her snort and squirms when the attention is suddenly focused on her. "He won't care," she finally states firmly. "You are much more important to him than the Chancellor." She pauses. "Were," she corrects quietly, because she can't say that Anakin will still feel the same about Obi-Wan after this.

"Ahsoka's right," agrees Padme emphatically, and there's a momentary, awkward silence. "I know you make a mistake," she tells him softly, yet firmly, "But that doesn't absolve you. I'll forgive you once you make this right."

Obi-Wan stares at her, a hint of confusion flickering across his face. "Is he… dead?" The question isn't quite as casual as he'd probably hoped, because Ahsoka can clearly hear the hopelessness in the words. She remains silent, uncertain how to answer without actually revealing the truth.

Padme leans forward, an intent, serious look on her face. "What does your heart tell you?" There's a hint of a wistful smile on her face, as if she realizes she's echoing something, something which no one else is privileged enough to know.

Obi-Wan looks down and doesn't answer. Maybe, Ahsoka realizes, he can't even answer that question. In his place, she doesn't think she could either. "No," he finally whispers, even though she doesn't think he really means it.

"No," Padme agrees quietly. "I do not think he is either."

"Nor do I," adds Ahsoka, voice barely above a whisper.

"Then why –?" Obi-Wan doesn't need to finish the question for Ahsoka to know what he's thinking. Why is he gone? Why did this have to happen?

"That is something only he can tell you," Ahsoka answers, sharing a look with Padme. She, too, wishes that she knew the answers, that she knew what it was that took her master away, but she has to have faith in the Force that he'll be alright, and that he'll be able to tell her.

They sit there silently for many long moments, each lost in their own thoughts and remembrances. "Since you're both here," Padme says at last, "Suppose we have dinner together?"

Ahsoka grins at her, and Obi-Wan nods in agreement. They'll stay together for now, three friends who mutually care for Anakin and fear for his future and fate. Somehow, Ahsoka doesn't think it will be long before she starts getting answers.

Less than a week later, Obi-Wan is kidnapped from the Temple.

Final Note: I've got a few more bonus chapters planned so you'll be getting another next week! ;)