Here we are! Second to last chapter! This chapter's a little short - and it was kind of therapeutic to right, to be honest, mostly because I'm very much in need of relaxation right now. (I'm so happy the weekend is finally here. *flops onto bed and proceeds to crawl under the covers*) I've got a big idea for the last chapter, so the next chapter will probably be pretty long. So keep your eyes out for that!

Enjoy!

Situation Nineteen. Relax

"But do you ever actually relax?" Ahsoka could only see Rex's upside-down head from where she was. (Actually, Rex wasn't the one being upside-down. Ahsoka was actually upside down, balancing herself carefully on her palms with her toes pointed delicately at the ceiling. She had been holding that pose for nearly a minute and a half now, and her abdomen was beginning to feel the slightest twinge of discomfort. But no matter. She'd broken a five minute record before, and Ahsoka was determined to go on for five minutes and thirty seconds. Maybe six minutes, if she tried hard enough.)

"We get some down time," Rex responded, sitting down in front of Ahsoka. "But not exactly the same type of down time as you Jedi get."

Ahsoka stuck out her tongue but instantly regretted it. That one movement had already wasted enough energy that could have gotten her going for a few more seconds. Instead, she asked, "What do you mean? This is…kind of relaxing."

"All of the blood in your body is rushing to your head. I don't really see that as relaxing."

"It's yoga. It's supposed to calm your soul and body and all that."

Rex didn't look entirely convinced, not that Ahsoka blamed him. She vaguely remembered wearing the same skeptical expression when she was first told how important stretches were. She also remembered not knowing how to hold any stretching position until she was a little older, mostly because all of her baby fat had not yet turned into solid muscle.

Ahsoka also remembered how proud she had been when she first knew how to do a backbend. She wouldn't stop doing it later – it was almost like she was afraid that as soon as she stopped doing backbends, she'd forget how to do it entirely. (Although that was never true.)

"Come on," Ahsoka said, grunting a little as she adjusted her palms on the mat. "I'm sure you know how important stretching is. You've been through some pretty intense workouts."

"I know the importance of stretching," Rex responded, "but I don't see it as something to do to relax."

"Then what do you do to relax?" Ahsoka asked. Her abdomen was trembling a little now, but she bit down on her lip and willed herself to get through the next few minutes. It was all in the brain, after all. As soon as she'd pass the three minute mark, it'd all be easy from there.

"Talk with the rest of the boys. Catch a few drinks. Share stories. Normal things," Rex replied.

Ahsoka made a face. "Yoga's considered a normal way to relax, you know. Lots of people besides Jedi do it."

"I know, but it seems like you lot are more focused on it than the rest of the people in the galaxy."

True, Ahsoka agreed, though she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud. Instead, she kicked her legs up even higher, as though trying to making a point on how long she could hold herself up. There was a shared silence between the two and finally, with a long sigh, Ahsoka lowered her legs. She slowly fell back against the mat and sitting up on her ankles, Ahsoka snapped her fingers and said, "You. Take off your shoes."

Rex frowned. "Commander?"

"Come on," Ahsoka said, stretching her arms. "Maybe the reason why you're not into yoga is because you're not really doing it in the right form. Maybe there's some other form that could offer some more comfort." Ahsoka hopped up to her feet. "Come on!" she repeated, this time more enthusiastically. "Just give it a few minutes. It won't be terrible."

Rex, again, didn't look entirely convinced, but he didn't bother fighting against Ahsoka when she yanked off his boots. She threw them to the door and pulling the mat a little closer to him, she said, "Let's start off with a backbend. I mean, that's usually the simplest type of stretch a person can jump to."

"I know how to do a backbend, Commander," Rex said, but he didn't sound annoyed. (Now, he just looked wary. And a little amused. But it was mostly wariness.)

"I know, I know, but let's try it again! Who knows, maybe it'll be more fun if we do it together." Ahsoka flashed Rex a brief grin before settling on the mat next to him. They were a respectable distance apart. If Ahsoka stretched out her arms, she could probably brush her fingers against Rex's shoulder. Not that she was going to do that right this instant.

"Can you prop yourself up?" Ahsoka asked, palming her hands onto the mat. She vaguely heard a grunt – and then, when she turned her head, she found Rex positioned in a perfect arch, his chin lifted a little to the ceiling but the rest of his body completely rounded over. Through his thin bodysuit, Ahsoka could make out his toned muscles from under the dim lighting.

"Huh," Ahsoka only said, and propped herself up on her hands. She let her head fall back, and for the first few seconds, she felt a pleasant, warm sensation in her head. (Then again, that could have possibly been the blood rushing up to her brain.) "See?" she asked at last, her words coming out a little funny from the strain of trying to balance herself. "This is a nice experience, isn't it?"

Rex didn't answer.

Ahsoka frowned. She tilted her head to the right again – only to find that the captain had his eyes closed. Though he was still upright in his backbend position, he was breathing deeply, almost as though he was in a trance. Ahsoka stuck out her tongue in annoyance and lifted her leg, ready to kick him awake.

Instead, she kept her feet on the ground and turned back to the ceiling.

Well, she thought, amused. At least he's relaxed.

A/N - As always, reviews are very much appreciated! Constructive criticism is alright, but flames are not!