POV: Anakin Skywalker

Three months later.

"Anakin… Anakin, help me…" For the tenth time this week, I watched Ahsoka scream for me while writhing in agony in my head.

I opened my eyes and turned my head to glance at her. I sat up and tried to get off of the bed without waking her up, which was always unsuccessful. "Bad dream?" she whispered, lifting her head to look over her shoulder.

I laid beside her again and draped my right arm over her. She held my hand tightly as I kissed her bare shoulder. "Yes."

"Is it the same one?"

"Yes."

She sighed. "I'm sorry, Ani. I wish I understood what it meant…"

"Me, too, beautiful. Me, too…"

"Try to go back to sleep, Anakin."

Her grip on my hand tightened in a comforting manner. I kissed her shoulder again. "Ahsoka?"

"Yes?"

"You know how we talked about taking precautions before getting too… involved?"

She rolled over to stare at me. "Yes. Why?"

"What if we tried it and this is a result of that?"

Her eyes hardened. "I will not die after we make love for the first time."

"What if you do?"

I knew I was being paranoid, but she was my life. "I'm not worrying about it. Why are you?"

"Because these dreams feel like reality. I can't lose you…"

"I'm perfectly healthy," she whispered. "You won't lose me, sweetheart." I rolled on top of her and hovered above her naked body. The blanket was the only barrier between us. I kissed her passionately, rubbing my chest against hers. "Anakin," she whispered, pushing me gently.

I stopped when I realized that my body took over my mind. I moved away from her and put my hand down on my lower half while attempting to regain control of myself. She sat up, holding the blanket around her.

"I'm sorry, Ahsoka."

"It's no big deal. You know I want to, but we need pills. We need…"

I glanced over at the nightstand briefly. "I know," I muttered.

She leaned towards me and hugged me. "Stop worrying, okay?" I kissed her cheek and closed my eyes as I leaned against her for support. Her fingers ran through my hair and her lips pressed up against my hair every now and then. "I know you'll take good care of me, Anakin. I didn't fall in love with you to defy my parents. I fell in love with you because you were mine. As my slave, you were always with me and I got to know you a little better. As my lover, I've gotten to see how much of a sweetheart you truly are." She took me back to the pillows and kissed my neck slowly. She sent chills of excitement through me and I had a hard time keeping myself under control. I moaned as she gently bit my neck. "Now, let me ask you something."

"Anything," I whispered.

"May I be the slave tonight?"

I opened my eyes and stared into hers. "Ahsoka –"

"I refuse to wait because of some dream. Please, Anakin, take me."

"I thought you wanted to be safe?"

"I don't care anymore. I just want you to make love to me. I want us to be connected. I want you."

Her teeth slid along my skin as she crawled onto me. I wrapped my arms around her body and moaned. She tugged on my pants and I gasped. "Wait."

"What?" I held her against me as I sat up. She watched as I reached into the drawer of the nightstand. I bought a few assets the other day. Her eye markings rose. "Was this planned?"

"Not by any means. I just wanted to be safe and prepared…"

She lifted my shirt over my head and kissed me. I held the sides of her face as I lifted my lower half, allowing her to remove my pants.

Within moments, we were safely and passionately making love for the first time.

The next morning.

I laid there, watching her sleep with a smile spread across her face. Her warm body was pressed up against mine. She moaned as she began to stir.

"Good morning," she whispered.

I rubbed her arm and smiled. "Good morning." She threw herself on top of me and kissed me slowly. "How are you feeling?" I whispered. I made her cry a lot last night, so I was concerned.

"Kind of sore and tired, but I feel wonderful."

"Are you sure?"

She smiled wider. "Yes, Ani."

She pressed her lips against mine for several passionate kisses. "Anakin, are you in there?" A knock hit the door and we separated quickly. She stared at me with widened eyes. I nodded towards the refresher and she quickly, but quietly, got off of the bed and entered. She started the shower and I quickly pulled my pants on. As I passed Ahsoka's bed, I ruffled the sheets and blankets a bit, making it look as though she'd slept in it. "Anakin?" I ran a hand through my hair as the door slid open. "Just waking up?"

"She did," I shrugged, yawning. "I've been up."

"Once she's done in the shower, the Council would like to see you both."

He sounded upset and I stepped out, allowing the door to slide to a close behind me. "What's going on?"

"Anakin –"

"No. Tell me now."

He sighed. "We received another transmission from Shili last night. The father wants her back. If he doesn't have her in the next three days, he'll declare war on us."

"Then be ready for a war," I whispered. "I'm not taking her back."

"Think about –"

"I did and I made up my mind. End of discussion."

I turned around and went back into the dorm as Ahsoka came out of the refresher with a towel around her tiny body. "You look upset," she whispered, coming closer to me. "What did he say?" She rested her hands on my chest for a few moments before quickly dressing herself. I sat down on her bed and she sat in my lap. "Talk to me."

"I'm not your slave anymore," I snapped.

She ran her fingers through my hair slowly. "Anakin, this is what I was talking about. You're upset. You weren't like this before he came."

I stared into her eyes and frowned. She kissed me briefly and I sighed. "Oh, all right. It's your father again."

I fell backwards onto the bed, pulling her down with me. She rested her hand on my chest and rubbed my sides as she stared up at me. "What does he want?" she whispered.

"You to go back to Shili."

"Are you okay?"

"No."

She sighed. "Anakin, why would I dare go back? I have all the reason in the galaxy to stay right where I am."

I closed my eyes when she kissed my chest. "I love you."

"I love you," I whispered. Several moments of silence led to her being flipped onto her back and another asset being pulled from the drawer of the nightstand.

One hour later.

We stepped out of the shower, dried off, and dressed ourselves in our Jedi garments. I sat down on my own bed and smiled up at her as she finished pulling her tube top down into position.

"What are you smiling about?" she asked, chuckling a bit as she turned to face me.

"I don't know how I got so lucky."

She came closer and I took her hands in mine. "We crawled into bed and –"

I chuckled and kissed her hand. "I meant lucky to meet you." She giggled and our hands swung from side to side slowly. "Beautiful."

"Gorgeous."

"Wild."

"Crazy," she whispered, laughing.

"You do realize that my list could go on endlessly, correct?"

She leaned closer to me. As we were about to kiss, a loud knock hit the door and I sighed. "Come out now."

She jumped as Windu's voice boomed in the hallway. I pulled her closer to kiss her passionately. "Don't be afraid of him." She nodded and I stood. We walked into the hall and were met with his hateful glare. He hated me in general, so it didn't bother me all that much.

We led him to the Council chamber and stood in the middle of the large room. Windu took his seat and stared at me angrily. "Are you enjoying your defiance?"

I shrugged, smirking. Ahsoka stared up at me and frowned. Yoda decided to take this moment and speak. "Young Skywalker, a serious matter, this is. Take this into consideration, you must."

"I have."

"Spoken with your Padawan, you have?"

POV: Ahsoka Tano

My eyes wouldn't leave his form. He looked down at me. "He has," I whispered. I stepped forward, surpassing the limits that came with my rank. "Please, I don't want to begin a war, but I don't want to go back. My life here has been wonderful since my arrival."

"Your thoughts do not outweigh ours, young one."

I heard Anakin growl behind me. "I never said they did. You've mentioned that I'm nearly equal in strength as my Master. What if –"

"We're engaged in war already. We cannot walk into another."

"Masters –"

Anakin grabbed my shoulder and I was jerked backwards. It hurt a bit more than it should have because he grabbed me with his mechanical hand. "I brought her here. I took her in. She's my apprentice. If she leaves, I leave."

They stared at him in surprise, as did I. Master Kenobi looked disappointed in him and my heart broke. I freed him so he could come back to this life, not leave it again. Master Windu stood up abruptly. "Is this attachment?"

"This is the bond between a Master and student."

"You're no Master."

"I'm her Master!" he shouted. "You just want to make my life miserable. That's all you've done since I came to the temple over ten years ago!"

"Is that what you honestly believe, you arrogant child?"

I grabbed his wrist as he was about to spring. I had a great amount of strength since he attempted to break out of my grip. I could feel how tense and upset he was. "This conversation is over," he whispered through his teeth. He spun and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, quickly leading me out of the large hall.

I stopped him as more distance grew between us and the Council. His hands were shaking violently. "Please, relax. I don't like it when you're upset." He stared at me with sad eyes. I gently gripped his hands, slowly leading him to the dorm. I was walking backwards so I could keep my eyes on him. The door opened behind me. Once we were both in, he closed his eyes. I felt his anger flaring. "Ani, please, look at me."

"I think I need to go to the training room," he whispered. He tried to pull away from me and I slammed his back into the door.

He stared at me like I'd gone crazy. "Talk to me. If you really love me, you'll let me be the one to help you calm down."

Silence ensued and he slid down the door, pulling me down with him. "I don't understand," he growled. "They gave you to me and now they're trying to take you away."

My stomach hurt and the amazing feeling from our love making was beginning to wear off because of his mood. I bit my lip and chewed on it for a moment. "Maybe this is good for us. I don't want to begin a war…"

He gaped at me, his eyes widened. I could practically hear his heart shatter. "I made love to you twice," he ground out. "I showed you how much I love you. If you're willing to leave me after that, then what was the point?"

"I love you," I whispered. I tried to kiss him, but he pushed me away.

"No. You don't. Ahsoka, how could you possibly say that?"

I could see the tears forming in his eyes. "I'm thinking about what's best for you. I don't want to leave you, Ani. I honestly don't."

His body trembled as the tears began to slide down his cheeks. "You leaving is not good for me."

I leaned forward and he pulled me closer, holding me tightly. I'm not sure how long we stayed like this, but it was for quite some time. I looked up at him after his soft snores began to sound. I smiled weakly, loving his peacefulness. I loved to look at him when he slept. I stared at him until I decided that I should probably get him into bed. "Sweetheart," I whispered, nudging him gently. "Get up and into bed. Come on, Ani."

He groaned and his eyes barely opened, but he nodded. I helped him up and led him to his bed. He crawled across it and I pulled the blanket over him once he crashed down onto his side, facing me. He threw his hand out towards me. "Don't leave," he pleaded.

I grabbed his hand and kissed it. "I won't leave you. I promise." I moved the blanket aside and got into bed with him. I pressed myself against him and our arms draped over each other's bodies. He kissed me softly and I smiled at my sleepy lover. His lips moved against mine at a slow and passionate pace. I rubbed his back and he smiled. I giggled and hugged him. "I do love you, Ani."

"I love you," he whispered, tightening his hold on me.