A/N: Epilogue time!

Ahsoka had been Anakin's Padawan for quite some time. Never did she see herself in the position that she was in now. Helping younglings make their first steps into learning the ways of the Force. Once upon a time, that had been her with her eyes covered. And Master Plo was the one guiding her through the steps...

A sad smile momentarily flitted across the Togruta's face at the thought of the man. The man who was the closest thing to a father she ever had all her life. But she knew he would find the peace in death that he didn't find in this world's life.

"Master Tano! Where are you?" a voice cried out, and Ahsoka ruefully chuckled.

"Meanwhile, I'll have a long time before I find that kind of peace," she thought before speaking out loud. "You have to find your way to me, Sio."

"I can't! It's too dark!" the Youngling exclaimed, sounding scared.

"All of your other friends can do it. I know you can do it too," Ahsoka said kindly. "All you have to do is trust in your instincts. Trust in the Force."

Sio was one of her more interesting students. Such a kind boy, but his talent showed through his studious habits. He was smart, but he had yet to truly believe in Force. But when he did, Ahsoka knew he would be a talented Jedi.

"I can't..."

"Yes you can," Ahsoka interrupted firmly. "Just take a deep breath and focus. If you believe in the Force, it will guide you. It will aid all of those who believe in it. Do you believe, Sio?"

"I... I believe," Sio said with a small sniffle.

"Then prove it to me," Ahsoka said before going silent. Moments later, she smiled warmly when she a small Twi'Lek hugged her leg.

"It was so dark in there. I was lost and scared," Sio said, still hugging the woman's leg.

"Then you just proved that you can act despite your fear, which proves your courage. Courage is a good thing to have, Sio," Ahsoka said kindly.

"Were you ever scared, Master Tano?" Sio asked.

"Plenty of times. It used to always make me freeze up. But when I was assigned as Anakin's Padawan, I learned how to act despite my fear," Ahsoka told him.

"You trained under Master Skywalker?" Sio asked, his eyes widening.

Ahsoka couldn't help but chuckle despite herself. Here she was, giving words of wisdom to help him get past his insecurities, and the first thing he heard was that she used to be Anakin's student. And it wasn't the first time this happened.

"I was. And he taught me a lot. Just like the things I'm teaching you. How to have faith in yourself and the Force," Ahsoka told him.

"But I finished last," Sio said sadly.

"It doesn't matter. You still finished. It doesn't matter how fast you do it. As long as you did it. And that will always prove you have the gift of the Force within you," Ahsoka said with a smile.

"Does that mean I can go study?" Sio asked excitedly, and Ahsoka let out a loud laugh. This was easily the most studious Youngling she had ever seen. Something told her it was because people were allowed to have more of a personality around here.

"Yes, you can go study," Ahsoka said patiently, making Sio cheer as he ran out of the door. But he soon came back and gave Ahsoka a hug around her leg again.

"Thank you, Master Tano. For not giving up on me," Sio said.

"Sio, I don't plan on giving up on any of my students. Besides, don't tell anyone I said this..." Ahsoka whispered, a grin on her face. "...but you're one of my favorite students."

"Really? But, I'm not..."

"Sio, if you say 'not any good,' I'm going to assign you to helping Master Obi-Wan clean the library," Ahsoka said flatly, and the Youngling immediately shut his mouth. "Of course you're good. You just haven't come into your own yet. But when you do, you will be good. I'm certain of it."

"You believe in me that much?" Sio asked.

"Of course I do," Ahsoka said before raising an eyebrow. "You plan to prove me wrong?"

"No ma'am," Sio said before standing to attention like he a soldier.

"Relax. There's none of that here. Now go on and get. And don't give me any of that 'not any good' stuff again," Ahsoka said sternly. Sio nodded vigorously before running out of the room. The Togruta stretched her muscles a bit before looking out of the door thoughtfully.

"Anakin should still be teaching his class. Think I'll go pay him a visit," Ahsoka thought while grabbing something in her pocket. "I should get around to parting with this though."

"Remember, a lightsaber is a Jedi's weapon. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster..." Anakin trailed as he ignited his midnight saber. "An elegant weapon. But only when you learn wield it well."

"So what happens if we lose it?" a Youngling asked, raising a hand.

"I suggest you don't. Hesitant as I am to admit it, I've done it several times before. And my Master was not happy," Anakin said, making all of the kids laugh. The Grandmaster smiled at their laughter. "But eventually, I learned not to lose it. And you all should too. This weapon is your life. If you hope to strive towards a future as Jedi Knights, it will be your weapon against the forces of evil."

"Like you fought Chancellor Palpatine!" a voice spoke up.

"Try and raise your hand before speaking, young one," Anakin said calmly, and the Youngling looked down with embarrassment etched on his face. "But yes. It was."

"Believe me, if you start that conversation up, he'll never stop talking about it," a voice said, causing everyone to look towards the door.

Leaning against the open door, wearing robes that were both black and white with the symbol of the Jedi Order stamped on the back, was Ahsoka. And she was looking at Anakin was with a wide grin on her face.

"I resent that," Anakin said, fixing her with a smile of his own before turning back to the Younglings. "Everyone, say hello to Master Tano."

"Hello Master Tano," they all said at the same time.

"Hello young ones," Ahsoka said with a warm smile on her face as she continued towards Anakin. "And hello Grandmaster."

"Jedi Master Tano," Anakin said with a grin before giving her a kiss on the lips. "I'm still wrapping up the lesson. Give me a few minutes?"

"Sure," Ahsoka said before moving over to a chair to sit down in.

"Now since we're done with practice today, any of you have any more questions?" Anakin asked.

"Are you someone's mommy and daddy?" a Rodian Youngling asked. Anakin barely stopped himself from sighing out loud.

He should've been more specific and only allowed them to ask questions pertaining to the lesson.

"When I find the Senator who revealed my duel of Sidious to the public, I'm going to find him and dangle him over a Sarlaac Pit," Anakin thought with annoyance before speaking aloud. "Now why would you ask something like that?"

"You kissed Master Tano. That was something my mommy and daddy did," the Youngling asked.

"That's what two people who love each other do," Anakin said patiently before smiling. "But one day we might be. And you'll welcome them as a new Youngling too." Ahsoka suddenly coughed awkwardly, and Anakin hid a smirk.

"Any other questions that don't relate to my personal life?" he asked. All of the Younglings shook their heads. "Then run along, little ones. Run along and have fun."

With an excitement that only kids were capable of, all of them ran out of the room; their excitement more than apparent to the Grandmaster.

"I'm sure Obi-Wan wishes he could get them to move that fast when it's time to study," Anakin said with a laugh.

"Unless you're Sio. That kid loves to study," Ahsoka said with a laugh of her own. It was a laugh Anakin never got tired of hearing.

"Speaking of which, how is he?" he asked, making the Togruta sigh.

"He came in last again," she said as sat next to her.

"How badly?" Anakin asked.

"Not much better than last time. I think the problem is that he's such a mental type of student, that getting him to have faith in the Force is something he's going to have to take time to do," Ahsoka said.

"I get that feeling from him too. I've never seen a student like him," Anakin said.

"Neither have I. But I like Sio. He's a good kid," Ahsoka said.

"Yeah, he is. He just needs to come into his own a bit. But enough of the children. We'll leave that for tomorrow. How are you?" Anakin asked.

"Happy. Teaching is something I never thought I'd do, but I actually love it. I'm starting to see why Yoda did it. There's just something... right about helping these children come into their own as users of the Force," Ahsoka said before smirking at Anakin. "Oh, and you know. You make me happy too, I guess."

"Cute Snips. Real cute," he said wryly before Ahsoka gave him a kiss on the lips.

"Always. Now that classes are over, what do you want to do?" she asked as Anakin started to slowly grin. "Oh, no you don't mister. Not here. Younglings train on this mat."

"I wasn't going to suggest that! Force woman, what kind of man do you take me for?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"One who can't keep his hands to himself," Ahsoka said with a raised brow. Anakin shot her a grin that was almost predatory.

"Well can you blame me? With curves like this..." he teased, running his hands across Ahsoka's hips.

With an effort that could've moved a mountain, Ahsoka pulled his hands down as her lekku glowed a light red. But she wasn't embarrassed. Oh, no. He knew that color.

"Not here," she hissed with more insistence. Mostly because if he continued, she wasn't going to say no.

"Fine. We can go to our private room then," Anakin said, grabbing her hand and leading her out. She should've been indignant to being dragged away, but she couldn't even pretend not to be as eager as him.

"Hey Anakin!" a voice called out, and the Grandmaster silently cursed before turning towards his brother-in-law.

"You could not have picked a worse time," Ahsoka said, her brows furrowed.

"Why? What..." Beru trailed before noticing Anakin's impatience and Ahsoka's lekku. The woman grinned. "Ah. Now I get it."

"If you get it, will you come back another time?" Anakin asked, his patience even thinner than Ahsoka's.

"Not a chance. We came to get you two out of this temple. Rex is coming with us as well. And we already cleared it with Obi-Wan. So we know your lessons for the day are over," Owen said with a knowing look.

"Then if you plan on taking us out, give us a few minutes at least," Anakin told them.

"More than a few," Ahsoka said, pulling Anakin's arm closer to her.

"More than a few," Anakin corrected.

"For the love of... Fine. Go. Go," Beru shooed, and the two of them ran off. "I swear, they're like a newly married couple."

"I have a feeling that moment isn't that far away," Owen said with a smile.

"Shut up," Anakin and Ahsoka said at the same time. Both Beru and Owen were looking at the two with amused expressions.

The reason for that being that both of their clothes were disheveled, which in of itself leaves a lot of room for imagination. Anakin's hair was a mess, and both he and Ahsoka had deep purple marks on their necks. While still acting as if they hadn't done anything out of the ordinary.

These were two of the great Masters of the Gray Jedi Order? Somewhere in whatever realm he might be in, the guy who created the original Jedi Order just may be palming his forehead hard enough to leave a mark.

"I hope none of the kids see you like that," Beru said with some seriousness.

"We have a secret room on the holocron containment floor. It's soundproof," Ahsoka said, straightening her clothes with a warrior's dignity.

"Are you telling me the room you use to hide some of your Temple's most important secrets..."

"Also contains a room for our private time? Yes. Yes it does. What better place to keep it when you're one of the only few that can go down there?" Anakin told him.

"I don't know whether to call you genius or unbelievable," Owen said with a laugh.

"I think a little bit of both," Anakin said with a wide grin. "Now where are we going?"

"Dinner. Hello by the way," Rex said with a smile as he hopped out of the speeder. Anakin approached the former clone trooper before grasping his hand firmly and pulling him into a hug.

"Rexy..." Ahsoka trailed before doing a 'come here' gesture. "Get over here and bring it in."

"Your wish is my command, Jedi Master," Rex said with a smirk before moving over to give Ahsoka a hug. "How have you been, Skygirl?"

Ahsoka couldn't help but roll her eyes. It was the nickname Rex had came up with for her ever since the war ended. And it obviously had no connection to the fact that she was dating Anakin. Absolutely none at all.

"Busy. Very busy. Training Younglings is a full time job," Ahsoka said, cracking her neck. "But it certainly has its rewards."

"Other than the timing, this outing was a good idea," Anakin said.

"The timing?" Rex asked with a raised eyebrow.

"They wanted to fool around first," Owen said with a grin that would make the devil look innocent. Rex snorted.

"Gotcha," he said before chuckling. "Who would've thought? Two masters of the Jedi Order fooling around by closed doors. Sounds illicit enough to be put on the internet."

"Yeah, well... all of our time in the Temple can't be all be made up of perfecting saber forms and the ways of the Force. We do that when we want to," Anakin told him.

"And the rest of the time painting each other's necks purple," Beru said dryly.

"If you mention it again, I'm going to tell Rex what happened when we to Cloud City," Ahsoka threatened, and Beru snapped her mouth shut.

"Now I got to hear it," Rex said with a smirk. Beru hit him on the arm, but the man completely ignored the blow.

"Maybe later. First, let's get out of here. I'm starving," Owen said before hopping in the speeder he rented. Wasn't very fast, but at least it could hold the five of them.

Anakin got in the front with his brother, Ahsoka took a seat next to Beru, and Rex took a seat in the very back.

"You going through with it?" Owen whispered in his brother's ear.

"Of course I am. I said I would," Anakin told his brother in law, putting a hand in his pocket. He turned the box over in his hands, just to make sure it was still there.

"Just asking," Owen said with a wry smile.

"So what's life like in the temple?" Rex asked before taking a bite of his food.

"Hasn't really changed last time I told you," Anakin said with a shrug.

"Humor me," Rex said, making Anakin roll his eyes.

"Me, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan spend a big portion of our days teaching Younglings. Obi-Wan helps with teach them various points of history and meditation techniques while also managing the Temple's library. I help the Younglings handle lightsabers..."

"And I help them learn to trust in the Force and focus its power. Which is more difficult for some than others," Ahsoka finished.

"I'm still wondering why you limited teaching to just you three. Other Jedi returned to the temple, right?" Beru asked.

Anakin and Ahsoka looked at each other, a similar expression of annoyance on their faces.

Yes, other Jedi survived Order 66. And came back as soon as they heard the Sith were defeated and the Temple was restored to its former glory. But some Jedi didn't agreed with how things were being changed. Regardless of Anakin officially being the new Grandmaster, he still got a lot of flak to how they were suddenly changing the Jedi's way of life after so many millennia.

"You can say two plus two is five all your life. Doesn't mean it's right," Anakin thought, his annoyance rising at the memory. "If Ahsoka didn't talk me out of it, I would've shown you how wrong my ways of the Force are."

"Yes. But they are mostly fit to be training Padawans. Not teaching Younglings the ways of the Force early. Especially the way we've learned to perceive it. That's entirely our responsibility," Ahsoka said in a curt tone.

"Especially when half the bastards don't want to listen," Anakin said, stabbing his food.

"Well, to be fair, after all the Jedi came back, they're suddenly pushed into a style that goes against what they've learned," Beru said.

"I realize that. But when the Younglings get older, ideas are going to clash. And I refuse to have those children doom themselves to an emotionless life. I'm living proof that you can be emotional, yet controlled. There is will be no one or the other. Not as long as I'm Grandmaster," Anakin said before shaking his head. "Sorry. Sometimes I get a little..."

"Into it?" Owen asked.

"For lack of a better term, yes," Anakin said.

"It takes time. Even Obi-Wan's been doing a lot of soul searching since we started this, and he's learning things a lot easier than some," Ahsoka said before groaning. "What am I doing? We agree to come here in order to get away from work."

"Couldn't agree more. Now... we have a surprise for you, saviors of the galaxy," Owen said with a wink towards Anakin in particular. The man controlled his smile.

"Surprise? If it's anything like the surprise you got me for my eighteenth birthday, you can save it," Ahsoka said dryly. Anakin, Rex, and Owen snorted out a laugh while Beru did best to hide her grin.

"I was trying help you come into your own," she said. All three males in chortled even harder at that sentence.

"You gave me birth control," Ahsoka said, her tone flatter than a piece of paper. "Only the 'come' part of that sentence was true."

This time everyone was doubled over with laughter, half unable to believe they were even having this conversation. There's no way Ahsoka would've ever imagined something like this when she joined the Jedi Order - Having dinner with friends and a boyfriend, cracking sex jokes while claiming responsibility as a Jedi Master. It sounded like some strange parody.

"But I can promise you it's not. So wait here while we go get it," Beru said as Rex and Owen followed her out.

"What kind of surprise takes all three of them?" Ahsoka asked with an eye roll. "Owen sure loves his theatrics. Guess that's how we know he's your brother."

"I resent that," Anakin said, kissing her on the cheek.

"But you don't disagree. Says a lot, doesn't it?" Ahsoka teased.

"You're unbelievable," Anakin said, kissing the back of her right hand.

"And you wouldn't have me any other way," Ahsoka said with a gentle smile.

"Man, I love how easy this is now. Do you remember how awkward it was trying admit we had feelings for each other?" Anakin asked.

"You had to be the first one to bring it up. It probably would've taken me a lot longer than you did to say something about it," Ahsoka admitted.

"Usually the guy makes the first move. Even if the situation isn't complicated," Anakin said.

"Doesn't mean he has to. Now, I've got something to ask you something now that we've got the time," Ahsoka said, swallowing while placing a hand in the pocket of her robes.

"Same here. But you first," Anakin said, putting a hand in the pocket of his robes.

"Alright," Ahsoka said, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Now don't freak out."

"Are you pregnant?" Anakin asked.

"No," Ahsoka asked with a roll of the eyes.

"Is Sidious returning from the dead?" Anakin asked.

"No," Ahsoka said, her tone faintly amused now.

"Then I won't freak out," Anakin assured her.

"Yeah, we'll see," Ahsoka said before taking the box out of her pocket. Anakin's eyes immediately darted to it, his eyes widening.

"Ahsoka..."

"Now, before you say anything, let me finish," Ahsoka said, and Anakin nodded slowly. "It was weird coming to terms with the fact that I was in love with you before. Even with the idea being taboo ever since I arrived at the Jedi Temple, it was just something I never thought about."

"And then I wanted to leave the Temple, and you wouldn't let me go alone. You came with me. And we went on an adventure that helped the both of us find what we really wanted in life. Freedom. The right to love someone and feel angry when someone hurt someone we cared about without it being seen as a flaw."

"And then I looked at you one day, and didn't see my old Master. Or my partner. Or my friend. One day I looked at you, and saw a man. A man who became interested in me as a woman."

Ahsoka then stood to her feet, and gracefully knelt next to Anakin while holding out the box.

"I don't care if the man is normally supposed to do this. It doesn't matter to me if this is out of the ordinary. I want to marry you Anakin Skywalker, and I'm willing to ask you first in order to make that a reality. So, will you marry me?"

Anakin's eyes were wide with surprise. Out of all the questions he would've expected her to ask, that was one he certainly didn't expect. But he couldn't help but fight down some amusement at the situation he was in.

"Snips..." Anakin said before helping Snips to her feet. "That was one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. Sad to say, that it beat what I was going to say so badly, it's hardly worth saying."

"What?" Ahsoka asked in a confused tone, but it immediately cleared up when Anakin pulled out a box of his own.

Both of them looked each other straight in the eyes before laughing loudly. Who, at what time and planet could say that they've been in a situation where the man and the woman planned on proposing at the same time? Anakin didn't know whether to chalk that up to their similar mindset or the Force just wanted to have a good laugh at them.

"You cannot be serious," Ahsoka said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I'm afraid so. So... since we're in this situation, how do you want to do this?" Anakin asked.

"Well, I asked you first. So I want an answer," Ahsoka insisted.

"Alright. My answer is most definitely a yes. Now it's my turn. Will you marry me, Ahsoka Tano?" Anakin asked. The question was phrased in a simple way, but he managed to covey his love for the woman in front of him with only six words.

"As if you had to ask. Of course," Ahsoka said with a smile before the two of them swapped boxes. Then, they both put their new rings on. Both of which had a diamond shaped in the form of the Jedi crest.

"I'm not sure if we just think the same, or just have zero creativity," Anakin said flatly.

"It's more of the first one than the second, I think," Ahsoka said before kissing Anakin on the lips. "You won't be the last Skywalker anymore, Ani."

"I know my mother would've loved you as much as I do," Anakin said with a smile that was equal parts happy and sad.

"I'd like to think so," Ahsoka said, both of their foreheads touching.

Loud cheering and whistling turned their attention from each other, and announced Owen, Beru, and Rex's return.

But this time, Obi-Wan was with them. And the four of them had smiles on their faces while wheeling in a cake that was half the size of the speeder they rode on.

"I can only assume congratulations are in order?" Rex said with a knowing smirk. Ahsoka and Anakin looked at each other, wondering how everyone managed to find out. It was obvious that they planned this together.

"I told Beru and Rex," Ahsoka said.

"I told Owen and Rex," Anakin said before the engaged couple looked at their friends.

"And I told Obi-Wan," Rex said with a smile.

"And before you go off on him," Obi-Wan said, smiling widely when he saw the both of them were about to open their mouths. "Anakin specifically said not to let Ahsoka in on what he was planning on doing."

"And Obi-Wan's not Ahsoka," Rex said with a smirk.

"You've got to be careful how you word stuff, Skyguy," Ahsoka said, patting him on the cheek as he groaned.

"I realize that now," he said.

"You can't imagine how much we laughed when we found out you two were going to propose at the same time," Owen said with a smile.

"On the same day," Rex said.

"Asking us to set up an outing so you didn't have to ask in the Temple," Beru said.

"Getting the exact same wedding rings..." Owen continued.

"When I said that you two were so much alike, I didn't think it would be to this degree," Obi-Wan said with a chuckle.

"Guess we both got tired of just being boyfriend and girlfriend. It sounds way too immature for what I feel for her," Anakin said honestly.

"Then why didn't you ask me sooner?" Ahsoka asked with a raised brow. "I would've said yes the day after we won the war if you asked me."

"Because I rushed into a marriage before. When I asked you to be my wife, I wanted it to actually mean something. Plus I didn't want to rush you," Anakin said honestly.

"Men. So clueless," Beru said with a roll of the eyes.

"Hey!" every man said indignantly.

"Change of subject. Why is the cake so big?" Ahsoka asked.

"Whatever's left over, we'll give to the Younglings and other Jedi. Of course, you'll have to announce your marriage to them," Obi-Wan said before grinning. "Even though for some Jedi, a Grandmaster and a Master marrying is nothing short of blasphemy."

"Those Jedi can stuff it," Anakin and Ahsoka said at the same time before laughing.

"See? Made for each other," Owen said with a wide grin as the two held each others' hands.

"Bringing balance to the Force, becoming the Grandmaster of a Temple, and marrying the greatest woman to grace the galaxy," Anakin thought with a wide grin. "Not bad for a little Tatooine boy sold into slavery."

A/N: And... cut! That was A Path Less Taken! Over three years of time passed since I first started this story, but it's finally done!

I had a lot of fun writing this. I was able to explore three things that I wished other people built on. Anakin leaving the Jedi with Ahsoka after the Jedi were willing to send her to the wolves for a crime she didn't commit, Anakin realizing and mastering both sides of the Force to perfect his true power, and Anakin exploring a relationship with Ahsoka.

Seriously, the two of them went together way more than with Padme. Seriously, I'm starting to think that other than canon, their compatibility was the reason they got rid of Ahsoka. They even used Lux as a deflection tool for the idea.

More than anything, I wanted to take a shot at this pairing myself, and you know what? I think I did a damn good job. Some chapters were tough to write, but I think it all came together in the end.

Once again, I want to thank everyone reading for sticking with me through all 51 chapters of this adventure. Hundreds of people have shown their overwhelming support for me, and I'll always appreciate that. This story has the third most amount of favorites and the second most amount of follows out of every other story on this category. That's unbelievable.

But all good things must come to an end.

Force, I'm ranting. Having hard time believing this is it. Let me end it before I never stop. Farewell, all!