Welcome to my second fanfic! This is the novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2011. I had to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of November, and even though it wasn't easy, I got it done. And this is the finished product. A day later than I told everyone, but now it's hear. And I'm very proud of it. :)

I meant to get the entire story into this one novel, but right at the beginning, I realized that wouldn't happen. So I think I'm going to split this into three stories. And this is the first part. Please try to ignore any lengthy discussions, or wasted time. When you do NaNoWriMo, you're just trying to get words. You're not trying to save your reader's sanity. But it's really not that bad. I actually thought it was a little too fast paced, but you, as my reader, will have to judge for yourself. :)

So the story is simple. It's about Anakin and Leia. But this first part is mainly about Anakin and Padme. We'll get a lot of Leia in the next two parts, trust me. But for now, enjoy a bit of Anidala. :)

Oh, yeah, and this is an alternate universe fanfic, so some things are turned around a bit. For example, the whole thing with Darth Vader. You'll have to read to understand.

If you want a preview of what the series will look like, head on over to my YouTube account (link on my FF page). I've got a couple trailers, plus a preview which I'll hopefully get done today. :)

Other than that, enjoy. I know I enjoyed making it. And to everyone interested in what happens to Ahsoka. Well, I don't know, but I gave it my best shot. :)

Enjoy!

{trinity6diversia}

Ahsoka

"Did you wish to speak with me, Master?"

Anakin was startled out of his reverie, not having sensed Ahsoka's approach until she was directly behind him. He whirled around, hand instinctively reaching for the lightsaber at his belt, before he managed to stop himself. Ahsoka could muffle the impression she made in the Force, a skill Anakin was glad she possessed, until she used it on him. Then, he had the tendency to get rather grumpy. Not this time. This time, he was irked and gladdened by it at the same time.

At least she'll be able to take care of herself, he thought, then passed a hand over his eyes and pushed himself upright from the wall he was leaning on.

"Yes," he said, staring downward at his feet for a moment before daring to look up. He met Ahsoka's eyes and, as if for the first time, noticed how blue they were. For a moment he just stared, before he caught himself and shook his head as if to clear the memory. We're so alike, he thought briefly, then pushed that notion aside and took a deep breath.

"Ahsoka, what are you doing?" The question almost sounded desperate, if Anakin Skywalker were capable of sounding that way. Ahsoka raised an eyebrow, but not as if she thought the question were ridiculous, but rather because she was surprised that it would even be asked.

"I thought I'd made it clear already," she said softly, tiredly.

"Not to me you didn't," was Anakin's heated reply, crossing his arms across his chest and averting his gaze. "It's so impulsive." He took another deep breath, a fire smoldering in his eyes as he tried to control his mood. "It's not you, Ahsoka."

"I might have said the same about you, Master," she calmly retorted. "Everything I've learned about the fearless Anakin Skywalker makes it hard for me to believe that he could go against the Order. Yet marrying a Senator and hiding it from… everyone… isn't exactly something I thought such a man to be capable of. It seems I was wrong."

"Stop rubbing it in, Ahsoka," growled Anakin, whirling away from her and walking back down the hallway. Ahsoka followed, more because she wasn't going to let him go so easily more than because she wanted to. Anakin could irk her, as he was doing now. But he never got away with it. "And never call me by my full name, if you know what's good for you. I'm tired of my name dominating who I am. It's always 'Anakin Skywalker did this and 'Anakin Skywalker did that'. It's never just me, as a person. I'm always the 'Hero with no Fear'. And I'm tired of it. Can't I be just a regular guy for once?"

"No," was Ahsoka's abrupt reply, stepping quickly in front of him and cutting him off. "Because you're not. You're a Jedi."

"So are you," Anakin reminded her, folding his arms across his chest for the second time as he tried to stare her down.

"I'm not the Chosen One," was Ahsoka's equally stubborn answer.

"But you're an asset to the Order."

"Not this Order."

"And what does that mean? They're messed up, but who isn't? You're giving this all up, and for what?"

"For what is right." There was a pause as her Master regarded her, and Ahsoka could feel the conflict within him. "Can't you feel it?"

Anakin cast his eyes downward and did not reply.

"I see now, the corruption within the Republic," said Ahsoka after a moment, keeping her voice low to avoid unwanted ears from overhearing. "There is an evil that does not rest. I can feel it. And it has penetrated the Jedi Council. Soon, it will have taken over everything. I cannot remain in such a place, knowing as I do now that there are other ways." She paused again, but Anakin did not lift his eyes to meet hers. "You dared to defy the Council, Master, and as such, you have opened my eyes in a way that all of your training could not. Stay if you will, but I can do so no longer. I have more to live for than this."

Silence surrounded them both. Only when another Jedi passed them in the hallway did Anakin look up, and then he pulled Ahsoka to the side, keeping his voice low when at last he spoke.

"Where will you go?" he asked, his voice insistent as he tried to talk Ahsoka out of his plan of action. "The galaxy swarms with war. You can't escape it. And the Council will demand you relinquish all ties you have with the Order. You'll be entering into a dangerous world without the skills you need to survive."

"I'll get by," was the firm reply.

"Getting by means nothing if you don't survive."

"I'm not all helpless, Master," smiled Ahsoka grimly. "You have taught me well. Your radical methods of training may be for the better, come what may." She put a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Don't worry."

"I'll always worry," retorted Anakin, trying to force a smile and failing in extraordinary fashion. "You're like a little sister to me. I feel like, if I don't take care of you, someone will be at me about it. Mostly myself."

"You worry too much, Master," laughed Ahsoka. "Who knows, maybe I'll go to Lux. I know he'd go out of his way to take care of me."

"And I'd go out of my way to make sure he keeps his filthy hands off of you," countered Anakin without hesitation, and Ahsoka knew he wasn't thinking of Lux being a Separatist. His only thought was that Lux was a man he'd have to deal with if he got too fresh.

"Come on, Anakin," laughed Ahsoka again, trying to get his gall up. "Could it be my real reason for leaving the Order is to make it impossible for you to track my love life?"

"Jedi don't have love lives."

"And yet you do. How does that work?"

"Don't..." stammered Anakin, caught unaware, and not for the first time. "Don't… ask hard questions."

Ahsoka's laugh was one that Anakin hadn't heard in a long time, and he wished he could keep it going, but he knew he couldn't. His heart was too heavy for that. He once more started walking down the corridor, Ahsoka effortlessly falling into step beside him.

"As long as you're sure, Snips," was all he said, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

"I am, Master," she replied effortlessly, and no hint of doubt was on her face. "The Order has given me enough, and taken enough in return. I'm ready to be out of here, and on my own. And I know I can do great things. You've always said I could. I don't have to be a Jedi to change the galaxy, you know."

"And you'll do it, too," smiled Anakin, turning his eyes ahead and not looking at her. "If anyone can do it, you can." He stopped again, and put a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. "I'm very proud of you, Snips. I always will be. And I'll miss you more than you can imagine. Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

Ahsoka smiled and tossed her head the way she typically did after proving a point.

"I always do, Master."