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"She was the death of me, the beginning and the end. And I never understood her, for how could someone do beautiful be the cause
of so much destruction after all."

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"Here you are miss," The server at the small cafe placed my latte in front of me, followed by the cheese danish I had been craving since Anakin mentioned this place having the best ones. If there's anything I love more than my morning coffee, it's definitely a cheese danish.

I smiled up at him, "Thank you."

He nodded with a smile of his own before turning to Anakin and setting down his tea. I thought it was odd that he ordered tea after making a big deal about not liking it, but then he admitted that after I made him a cup the other day, he has a newfound appreciation of it, "And it's healthier than coffee," He added as the server walked away.

I chuckled and took a quick sip of my beverage, "I never took you as being a health freak." I teased, setting the yellow mug down.

"I'm not," He leaned back in the metal chair and took a quick look of his surroundings before drawing his eyes back to me, "But I am trying to better my diet habits, one thing at a time." He shrugged, before looking around once again.

"Are you okay?" I asked, causing his gaze to snap back to me, "You look nervous."

He adjusted his posture and sat more straight as he spread a smile across his lips, one I could easily tell was fake, "Well I'm on a date with a beautiful woman, only a fool wouldn't be nervous."

I knew he was not being completely truthful, and I also knew why. What man wouldn't be shifty after disposing of the body of the son of the man who holds his life in his hands the night before? But admitting that I knew more than what he has led on to me was not something I could do. So I pretended that I believed and was even flattered by his words, "I think we are well past the first date jitters," I teased as I slowly started to eat my breakfast.

His smile turned into a smirk as he trailed his eyes up and down the parts of my body that were visible and not cut off by the table, "We should stay in tonight, Piett can handle the club without me."

I playfully rolled my eyes, "I need to work Anakin, I have bills to pay." And I also have a plan to get into his office and hack into his computer again to see if there was anything I missed regarding this boss of his.

"I'll pay them." He offered with a nonchalant shrug as if he was simply offering to pay for a small meal and not thousands in bills. Granted I don't actually pay the bills myself, but still.

"Thanks for the offer, but no," I picked up my beverage and took another drink, this time nearly finishing half the cup. I felt like the caffeine was needed since sleep is not something I was able to have last night.

"Well," He leaned forward and rested his elbows in the table, "You just might change your mind."

I made a face that let him know I was not going to be changing my mind, and we soon fell into a small conversation that consisted of school, work and just life in general. He went to pick up his cup of tea after laughing at a joke I made, but paused when a butterfly flew down and landed on the rim of his cup.

And not just any butterfly, a black butterfly.

"Oh how pretty," I stared in awe, I have never seen a black butterfly in person before and it was a lot prettier than I expected. Under the sunlight it gave off a midnight blue shine, and it made small insect look like it was made from the finest velvet.

"Pretty indeed," Anakin agreed, "Do you know the symbolism of a black butterfly?"

I lifted my gaze to his and shook my head, "No, I don't."

He smiled, like he was happy to know something that I didn't and was equally as happy to tell me about it, "Well there are many who associate them with a life-changing transformation, a rebirth if you will. They say that it can mean something in your life is about to change for the good." He gently touched its wing and I was expecting the butterfly to fly away, but it stayed in the same position, "Unless you're one of the ones who consider them as a an omen of death."

"That's the thing with symbolism, it's so subjective that there are too many meanings to know what's real," That's one of the reasons I always try not to look too much into omens and symbolism, one thing usually means something different to another, "Would you consider yourself spiritual?" I asked curiously, wondering how he came about this information.

"No not at all," He shook his head and chuckled lightly while he twisted the cup in a circle. He went gentle so he wouldn't disturb the butterfly, his eyes still locked on it in a mesmerized trance, "I just find it comforting to believe in things that inspire hope, especially in moments where life just feels so...hopeless." He sighed to himself, his tone dripping.

"Are you okay?" I asked again, wishing he would open up to me. If only he knew just how much I could help him, that I would risk it all to make sure nothing happens to him.

He sighed again and rested his posture, "I keep thinking about Clovis and—"  He dropped his hand on the table in frustration, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be bringing this up, I promised you a nice breakfast."

The guilt in my chest was heavy, this was my fault. I reached out to place my hand on his and stroked his knuckles softly, "I know you're not ready to tell me everything and that's okay," Patience is a virtue after all, or so, "But at least tell me this..." I swallowed nervously before lowering my tone, "What I did — how much trouble is that going to get you in?"

He shifted his gaze to our hands and slowly turned his over so he could hold mine, "I don't know what you're talking about." He said calmly, his fingertips brushing my palm in a delicate way.

I furrowed my brows, "What—"

"The way I remember it is, I killed him, not you. You weren't even there, you weren't involved at all." He tilted his head, his eyes still on our joint hands, "The same goes for Ahsoka, neither of you were there. Is that understood?"

"Anakin I don't want you—"

"I said is that understood?" He finally snapped his eyes up, his stern tone catching me off guard. I nodded slowly and his eyes glossed over with guilt, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you," He leaned forward and cupped my cheek with his comforting touch, "I only want to protect you, okay? Please just let me do that or I won't be able to sleep at night."

I didn't deserve him, I didn't deserve him at all. But my love for him has made me selfish.

I placed my hand over his that rested on my cheek and leaned into it with a sigh of content, "Okay, but there is something that I really need to know and then I promise I won't ask anymore questions." This is something that has still been on my mind lately, even though I'm sure many have already forgotten.

"What is it?" He nodded for me to go on.

"The dead man in the alley," I reminded him, his expression slowly falling, "Do you know who killed him?" I know it wasn't him, but I had this gut feeling that he has already found out what the police haven't. Or I guess I should say what Connor hasn't, since it is his job at finding out.

He inhaled and exhaled heavily before picking up his utensils, "That's enough of this topic for today, let's talk about me kidnapping you from work today so we can go on a road trip." He smiled, immediately shutting down my question.

But it was him refusing to answer that gave me the answer, he does know. He just doesn't want me to know. I wanted to press, but I knew I wouldn't win and it would only frustrate him, so I decided to leave it alone - for now.

I sighed to show I was annoyed by his topic change, but went with it anyway, "And where exactly would you be taking me Skywalker if I allow that to happen?"

His smile widened and it was in that moment that the butterfly flew away, passing over his face, "That's a surprise."

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