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Disclaimer: I don't own any Star Wars characters and any OC's that resemble real people are entirely coincidental.

There is an explanation of how my calendar works and a list of helpful translations for my commonly used Star Wars words in 'Flame of Hope - Everyone' if you're curious.

A/N: Surprise! After months of neglecting many of my stories while I concentrated on only a few, the guilt of abandoning them has finally done me in. Which means that I'm going to put ALL 13 of my WIPs back in an equal rotation.

But what I will also do is make sure that I update whichever story has the most combined favs and kudos from the two sites I post on at the beginning of every week as a thank you to the people who are supporting that story.

I hope this works for everyone. I know some of you have been begging me to update stories that have been ignored for more than a year now (like this one), and I'm finally going to start doing so... 1000 + words at a time. :D

I Know

Not Optimistic:

D83/20 BBY, Onderon

When Lux Bonteri, youngest ever Senator of Onderon, saw on the news that his very good friend, Ahsoka Tano, had been accused of bombing the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and striped of her status as a Jedi, he almost dropped the glass of water he was chugging as his fingers suddenly lost all feeling.

No way in the Corellian Hells would Ahsoka do that!

His elegantly shaped eyebrows furrowed nearly together at his next thought. How come the Jedi Council is throwing one of the best of their own under the proverbial transport?

After watching the news just long enough to hear that Ahsoka's trial was being held first thing in the morning today, Coruscant time, Lux dashed out of the training gym in the basement of his mansion near the capital city of Iziz and up four flights of stairs to get to his suite on the top floor. He showered and changed in record time and was in his personal ship in ten minutes flat, anxiety riding him hard.

The flight from Onderon to Coruscant was only a few hours long, but it felt like an eternity to the young man. Lux knew there was no possible way for him to get there in time for the beginning of the trial, but he hoped he might get there before the end.

As soon as he was on route, dashing along the first of a few different hyperlanes that would take him to his destination, Lux commed the only person he knew of that might actually answer him AND know what was going on.

A hologram of his late mother's friend, Padmè Amidala, appeared a few moments later, moving as if she was walking. She looked stressed, despite her efforts at appearing calm and in control. "Good morning, Lux. Now's not a good time. I have to be in court in five minutes."

Poodoo. It's happening already!

Somehow, Lux kept his expression from showing the worst of his distress. "My apologies, Padmè. I just heard about Ahsoka on the news. Please. Just tell me. Does she stand a chance of being cleared of the charges?"

Padmè's expression turned to deep regret, which filled him with dread. "I honestly don't think so. The evidence against her is overwhelming. I'll do my best, but..."

Lux felt like he couldn't breathe. Ahsoka might die... He knew the punishment for multiple murders could be as harsh as execution. And for someone accused of bombing the Jedi Temple and killing fellow Jedi...

Feeling lightheaded, he gulped in air and got it together. Sort of. "I'm on my way. Can you please… just tell her that?"

The beautiful Senator of Naboo gave him a sympathetic look that the faint blurriness of the holo image couldn't disguise. "I will, Lux, if I can. I'm going to stall as long as I can anyway. Anakin's out there right now, trying to find the real culprit. I'm going to give him as much time as I can get away with."

Lux felt a smidgeon of hope again. If anyone can make things happen, it's Skywalker and Padmè. I doubt there are two more determined people in the galaxy. "Thank you, Padmè. I'll be there in a few hours."

The woman nodded once and the hologram disappeared. Lux slumped in his seat and stared out at the blue and white of hyperspace blankly. He considered Ahsoka to be one of the best friends he'd ever had, but he knew their friendship could easily have been so much more if she wasn't a Jedi. In a rather large corner of his heart, he knew he'd loved her since the first day he met her, but he'd made that corner stay silent so as not to put any pressure on her, even though she'd shown a few hints of returning his feelings.

Now that corner was whimpering in pain, knowing the person who suited him best was facing a terrible time in her life and he wasn't there to support her.

Even though it wasn't his fault, since he couldn't have known unless someone had thought to comm him about what was happening to Ahsoka, Lux felt like scum.

Coruscant...

A flicker of a smile came and went as Padmè tucked her holo device into a hidden pocket in her robe. I hope Lux gets here in time; Ahsoka could really use his support after all of this over.

The friendship between the two teenagers had always made her smile and secretly hope that it might turn into something more, even though she knew she shouldn't. The harsh reality was that it was hard enough for Anakin to hide a relationship. Ahsoka's much more open personality would find it almost impossible, and she'd quickly find herself severely chastised, if not expelled, from the Order.

Padmè sighed as she remembered the sad truth that that had already occurred, but never for a reason you would expect.

The beautifully dressed and coiffed senator came to a stop outside the door to the tribunal chamber, waiting for her signal to enter and take her place as Ahsoka's defending voice. A million thoughts were trying to take precedence in her mind, but the one that dominated the most was Ahsoka's defeated words as she huddled in on herself, just before the troopers had come and taken her from her cell:

"Forgive me if I'm not optimistic. I thought I was part of the Order. I thought they were my family. But everyone except Anakin has abandoned me. And I'm not holding out much hope the Senate will treat me any better."

As she waited, it was all Padmè could do not to shed tears of abject sorrow for her young friend who refused to cry for herself. Ahsoka should have been supported by the Order, not thrown out of it! She never should have had to run to the depths of Coruscant. She never should have had to team up with Ventress just to survive. She should never have to stand trial for crimes I'm positive she didn't commit. My husband's Padawan is the sweetest, most caring being I've ever met.

Padmè sniffed discreetly, forcing back the impending waterworks out of sheer willpower alone. Ahsoka is also one of Anakin's very few sources of calm and joy in an ever increasingly tumultuous war. He needs her. As much as I hate to admit it, Anakin needs that girl in his life every bit as much as he needs me.

More now than ever, really, since Anakin is finding it harder and harder to trust Obi-Wan.

Padmè couldn't blame him. The unacknowledged discord between them had started years ago, when Obi-Wan hadn't listened to Anakin about the awful visions of his mother's fate. But it had gotten much worse lately, what with the Jedi Master faking his death and letting Anakin believe it, and now supporting the Council - or at least not openly standing against them - in their decision to expel Ahsoka from the Order. She knew it was killing him, too, because her Ani loved his former Master like a brother, and he couldn't understand why Obi-Wan seemed so determined to throw proverbial stones at their bond.

She startled slightly as a small chime sounded and the silent and motionless Coruscant Guard in white and red armour standing by the door nodded respectfully and pressed the button to open it for her.

Smiling briefly in thanks, Padme took in a deep breath, calming herself, and walked forward, ready to make this farce of a trial last as long as possible so that Anakin had as much time as she could give him to come up with a miracle.