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Chapter One: Zero Hour/Clone Wars.

Coruscant: Jedi Temple: Council Chambers.

Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker stood next to his master Obi-Wan Kenobi in front of the Jedi Council. Every master was present and looked at him differently. Mace Windu was one of the first he noticed, the man had sheer distain for him that much was clear but at times he understood the man better then the rest of the council. Master Kit Fisto who was sitting not far from where Anakin was standing gave Anakin his signature smile as if to reassure the young man before the meeting began. Just opposite Kit sat Masters Shaak Ti and of course the woman he could not get out of his head Aayla Secura. Aayla had been Anakin's long time friend in the order and was more often similar to Qui-Gon in how she dealt with him at times choosing a gentle calm approach when he came to her in fact she had saved him some three weeks earlier when he was about to give into the dark side and kill the Tuskan Raiders, Aayla reached out to him through the force and stopped him again using her calm voice inside his head and over the years since she was a young Padawan she was the only Jedi he completely trusted much to Obi-Wan's distress.

Anakin's glance shifted around the room his eye caught Master Yoda next, the kind old Jedi had helped him learn to meditate properly when he was a boy but he rarely put it into practice until he was tutored by Aayla who came up with fun ways to use the exercise. Anakin sighed while throwing up his mental barriers as the next memory hit him he thought briefly to the battle of Geonosis where He had a fateful conversation with Padme that ended their friendship, she had said he would not be able to find love and be a Jedi too and she said how he needed to think of the Republic instead of his own needs ironically moments later he found what he thought was the answer. Anakin during the battle felt Aalya inside his head again and he followed her voice until they fought side by side. Aayla immediately sensed his feelings for her and when the other Jedi were not looking gave him his first kiss which led them to where they were now.

Anakin straightened up feeling someone try to probe his mind "Good Skywalker keep your defenses up only a little longer and trust me and the force." Aayla said through there bond. Anakin did not move but the gleam in his eye told Aayla he had indeed heard her and was being patient. Anakin looked forward as the meeting began. Mace Windu motioned the council to order. "Do you know why we have called you here?" Mace said in an accusing tone towards Anakin. Anakin sighed he in all honesty was growing tired of how the council treated him over the years Aayla, Kit and Yoda being the only ones who didn't treat him poorly since joining the order "No I am not aware of the reason." Anakin said flatly showing no emotion outwardly. Aayla felt it was her time to interject before anyone could go further. "Anakin they know what happened to you on Geonosis I was caught kissing you by one of them." Aayla said calmly.

Mace's expression softened for the first time around Anakin in years, true he did not trust him very much but he may have been too hard on him after hearing his fellow masters speak. "Anakin the kiss is only part of the reason we called you here what that kiss caused in you is the real reason, we all felt a shift in your alignment in the force a shift towards the light we have not felt in you ever before this shift we sense in you is part of the reason Master Secura and yourself were not expelled, and why we have brought you here to tell you some news." Mace paused before continuing "While we are not officially repealing it yet we are going to give you and Master Secura a pass on this and a chance to explore this more in depth we cannot stop you given the force bond we all feel between the two of you however we also cannot for the time being let it be done inside the temple walls either at least until the repeal is final however Aayla had a plan for that." Mace said nodding to Aalya to speak.

Aayla gave Anakin a loving smile no longer hiding behind her neutral council expression. "Anakin your master has told us you have learned all he can teach you so we are promoting you to Jedi Knight, however what I suggested was this." Aayla paused giving Anakin a thoughtful look before speaking again. "I want to take you to my home planet, we know you are not happy here all of us feel it let me take you somewhere where we can start a new life together." Aayla said finishing the description of her plan. Anakin was shocked "What about the Jedi Trials?" Anakin asked looking around the room. Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder before speaking knowing the answer. "Anakin you passed them in the events leading up to the clone war's beginning, you faced the trial of the spirit at the hands of the Tuskan Raiders, you faced the trial of the flesh at the hands of Count Dooku and even though you did not defeat him you lasted longer then me and I am a Master and the fact that you even have the question in your mind about the trials proves that you have the mind of a knight." Obi-Wan said as Aalya stood up from her chair.

Aayla gave Anakin a flirty look motioning him forward drawing her lightsaber as he kneeled before her, activating her lightsaber she hovered her blade over each of his shoulders "By the right of the council, by the will of the force Anakin Skywalker rise a Jedi Knight" Aayla said cutting Anakin's Padawan braid off before returning the saber to her belt deactivating it before throwing her arms around him "Congratulations." Aayla said breaking into tears at the promotion of the man she cared for most. Anakin looked into her eyes before responding to her "Alright I will go with you to Ryloth but what about the war and my men" Anakin asked. Aayla smiled before she spoke. "You and I will still serve as Generals for the republic and still be Jedi after this but we will have to make camp for ourselves and our men when we get there the only decision now is which republic ship we want to use since the council has decreed we are to stay together." Aayla said. Anakin grinned "We can use mine the Resolute it is modified and more advanced then most republic warships and plenty of space for both battalions." Anakin said. Aayla nodded smiling happily "That sounds perfect and don't worry about housing when we get there we can figure it out" Aayla said. Mace gave the couple an approving nod "You two are dismissed I imagine you both will have much to do before you leave oh and one other thing the council wants to assign you a Padawan Anakin, head down to the hanger we have some hopeful younglings waiting." Mace said his tone less harsh now.

Aayla and Anakin bowed before leaving and walked down the hall but before they got far Anakin placed a hand on Aayla's shoulder. "Master Secura I have only one thing to ask, if we really go through with this can we take it slow I need some time to get used to all this before we get too serious." Anakin said in a nervous tone. Aayla gave Anakin a knowing look before responding "Of course dear and it is Aayla to you now you are no Padawan and when we talk in private no rank stuff we are dating but I will respect your wish, I know I am your first relationship so it is hard going from one minute thinking you will never be in love to the next having a girlfriend for the first time it may surprise you that I have been down this road, I had a brief relationship with Kit but we broke it off a few years ago it was casual dating anyway but I remember how nervous I was too." Aalya said a loving smile now crossing her lips.

Anakin knew about her past relationship and remembered why it ended but quickly shook it off "Thanks for being so wonderful about this then." Anakin said in a more upbeat tone though Aayla could tell from his touch that he was still getting used to it as he hesitantly toke her hand in his. Aayla raised an eyebrow at this as she felt his hesitation and an idea came to her to break some of the ice "Slow huh well let me try something." Aayla said in a soothing almost seductive tone. Anakin nodded trying to relax somewhat. Aalya gently wrapped her arms around Anakin leaning close to him as she kissed him softly her lips gently brushing over his as she continued to kiss him, as she felt Anakin relax a bit she deepened the kiss pressing herself tighter around him being gentle enough though as to not panic her new lover and to her surprise Anakin remained relaxed in her arms. Aalya broke the kiss but did not release him "How was that, was that ok?" Aayla said while searching his feelings through their bond.

Anakin nodded "Yeah that was more then ok I just meant I wanted to pace ourselves a bit before we do anything more intimate." Anakin said silently hoping Aayla understood him and was not offended. Aayla kissed him reassuringly on the cheek as she felt his surface thoughts, he had been hurt before she felt it once on Geonosis and now she felt it again as she realized she had been his first kiss, when she had kissed him on Geonosis he was afraid of being hurt again sensing this she kissed him again this time much more passionately before breaking the kiss again. "Anakin as I said we can take it slow besides I am in no hurry we have known each other since we were kids lets take it one step at a time and let nature do the rest but I want you to know I love you Anakin Skywalker and you are worth it." Aayla said slowly releasing Anakin but she held onto his hand "Come on Anakin we need to go get your new Padawan." Aayla said guiding him to the hanger.

Coruscant: Jedi Temple Hanger.

Anakin and Aayla made there way to the hanger area where Jedi Masters Siri Tachi and Quinlan Vos were waiting with a team of younglings all standing at attention. Siri stepped forward to greet Anakin but surprised everyone except Anakin and Aayla by greeting Anakin with a tight hug. The blonde female master had been much like a second mother to Anakin, she had done her best to help give him a good childhood alongside Obi-Wan and even though things ended badly between her and his old mentor after she had a brief relationship with Kenobi she always had a soft spot for Anakin and made time for him when she was at the temple and even refused a council seat because of the way the acted towards him. Siri released him "The council went to far this time kid as soon as you are done here I want to come with you if you and your lovely girlfriend will allow a tag along." Siri said.

Aayla gave the fellow master an approving nod she knew how close she was to her boyfriend but trusted the two knowing their history. Anakin however was concerned "Master Tachi are you sure about this I know it was harsh but it could have been a lot worse besides we are just going to find a new home and it will not be easy for you where we are going, Ryloth is a desert world with little of the comforts that the temple has." Anakin said making it clear what she was getting into. Siri nodded "I am sure and honestly what they did was basically exile without taking your saber away you are a knight and should be allowed to be here and years ago Jedi were allowed to freely fall in love and marry back in the days of Revan and Bastila, if an ex Sith Lord could find love why can't you without being punished and besides if you go then I have nothing left keeping me here we both know that." Siri said tears filling her eyes in a rare show of emotion.

Anakin nodded "Very well then you can come, I assume these four younglings are the ones the council spoke of." Anakin said gesturing towards the younglings. Siri nodded and Anakin began pacing in front of the four younglings, the first a young human male his force aura beamed with pride and talent something that reminded Anakin of a Padawan he knew years ago in Ferus Olin. The second Padawan was a human female he estimated she was about twelve and her presence beamed with a sense of lust, the girl had a crush on him Anakin did not make eye contact with her as he moved onto the next. The third Padawan was a Twi'lek female, she was quiet almost as if she was hiding her thoughts, a trait that made Anakin uncomfortable and he moved to the last one. the forth Padawan was a Togrutan female she was clearly the oldest of the group and unlike the others she stepped towards Anakin her presence beamed a joyful and somewhat playful aura. "Hello my name is Ahsoka Tano who might you be?" Ahsoka said.

Anakin grinned he like this Padawan her kindness and honesty immediately was winning him over "Anakin Skywalker and I am looking for a Padawan." Anakin paused before continuing "I sense you are reckless young one you may not make it as any other Jedi's Padawan but you could make it as mine." Anakin said extending a hand. Ahsoka smiled taking his extended hand shaking it "Ok master I accept your offer." Ahsoka said. Aayla approached the silent Twi'lek "Master Tachi I know this youngling if you don't mind I will be taking her as my student as well." Aayla said and Siri quickly nodded and then the group made there way to their quarters gathering their things and in a few hours made their way back to the hanger where Obi-Wan was waiting.

Obi-Wan looked mournful when he saw Siri with Aayla, Anakin and their new Padawans. Obi-Wan approached the group and first looked at Siri. "I know what you are thinking Siri are you sure I cannot talk you out of this?" Obi-Wan asked. Siri gave Obi-Wan a glare before she replied. "Obi-Wan don't even try to stop me, you abandon Anakin your Padawan, your son for all intensive purposes except blood to be all but exiled for a rule that did not exist a century ago I love him like a son especially after he lost his mother I won't stand for it and neither does Aayla that is why we are giving him a home that the Jedi now deny him, maybe the council feels threatened by Anakin everyone knows he used to be close to the senate but that ended a while ago time to drop it before you lose the best of the Jedi, the Jedi of old allowed love and marriage and even children and never tore children away from their families I used to justify it now though seeing a man I care for come so close to the dark yet chose the light without the council it made me realize we were wrong about Anakin he needs to be nurtured not condemned that is why I will not join the council until they change their ways and let Anakin return to his real home." Siri said.

Obi-Wan blinked he remembered Siri once scolding him for breaking certain rules at a time as Padawans now she lectured him on the ethics of the modern Jedi and she was right as always, he knew deep down it was too late to save his romantic relationship with her but he wanted to be there for Anakin as he decided his fate he spoke to the group. "Siri you are right perhaps the Jedi have fallen from our ways if you all can forgive me I want to come with you I can arrange for my battalion to go to the resolute but I can't stay here while my real family is shunned aside by the council even if Anakin got promoted that promotion was not for a selfless reason on the council's part will you let me join you?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin smiled tears of joy streaming down his face, the man he thought of as a father was giving up so much to follow him and he knew Obi-Wan meant every word "Of course Master you can come and hey we will figure this out when we get there." Anakin said throwing his arms around Obi-Wan hugging him tightly releasing him a moment later. Obi-Wan smiled before replying "From now on Anakin it is Obi-Wan to you." Obi-Wan said. Anakin nodded. The group made their way over to a freighter and boarded it together Anakin looked at the sign on the wall near the boarding ramp, the ship's name was The Twilight. Anakin made his way to he cockpit followed by Aalya who sat in the co pilot's chair and in a few moments they took off heading for the Resolute the next destination would be Ryloth.

A/N I hope you enjoyed this first chapter of my newest creation it was inspired by one of my old fanfics that I deleted a long time ago so there will be some returning scenes as it is meant to fully replace that story entirely stay tuned for more hope you like the first chapter.