2.3k words
༻✦༺

Ahsoka's POV
"Are you sure you don't need anything?" Cal gently stroked my cheek, and I looked up with a soft smile.

It's already been a few days and I still can't get used to him actually being here. I sometimes feel like I'm about to wake up from a dream, and he'll be gone. But thankfully, every-time I open my eyes, I'm blessed with his handsome face.

I only wished Master Skywalker got to feel this, I wish he was able to get his love back. I've even felt a bit guilty these past few days when I'd see him sulk in his sorrow, while I'm smiling and gazing into the emerald eyes of the one I thought was gone forever.

I know he wouldn't want me to feel guilty, he'd want me to feel all the happiness in the galaxy, but I couldn't help it - I just wanted him to be happy too.

I slowly shook my head, "I'm okay, I think I got the bleeding to stop," I looked back down to Dax as I continued to clean his head injury from the crash. The others were still undergoing the surgery, so it was just Cal, my mom, and I in the safe house; along with Dax's unconscious body.

"Alright, I'll be right back I'm going to get some air. Yell for me if you need me Starlight," He kissed the top of my head before walking away.

I watched him from my peripheral vision as he exited the house, and I breathed out a sympathetic sigh. (Y/n) being gone has been just as hard on him as it has been for my former Master, even though he's been trying to hide it and appear strong.

It's been hard on me as well, but I was doing my best to keep it together for both him and Anakin; they were closer to her than I was, and they needed a solid rock right now.

I dropped my gaze back down to Dax, and switched from gauze to a rag so I could clean his face, "I'm not even surprised that you four have survived this long," I swiped across his cheek to get off the dirt and dried blood, "If (Y/n) was still around, she would be happy to know that you all are okay." I smiled sadly; feeling the tears I've been suppressing beginning to pool near my bottom lashes, "She deserved a lot better than dying by the hands of him; she deserved her happy ending." I blinked; causing the tears to roll down my cheek.

"No-" Dax mumbled quietly as he turned his head to the side, "Alive-"

I dropped the rag down next to him as my eyes widened, "Dax?" I grabbed his face and turned it towards me as I lightly shook him, "Hey, can you hear me?" I tried to get him to open his eyes; hoping that he was actually gaining consciousness and not talking in his sleep.

His eyes slowly fluttered open as he moved his head around, "Skywalk- General Skywalker," He mumbled breathlessly as his dazed eyes met mine, "Where?"

"He's out right now," I informed him as I grabbed a light and shined it in his eyes to check his pupil dilation, "He'll be back soon, can you tell me if you have a headache?"

He slowly nodded before looking to the side, and then quickly looking to the other, "Max, Jim- Edge; where are they?" He asked while his eyes opened more fully; they were filled with worry.

He tried to sit up but I pushed him back down onto the couch, "Don't get up, they're fine, they're with Hunter right now." I assured him, "Your ship crash landed, and you're very lucky that it happened to land in the water - five more feet to the left and you all would have been pancakes." I began to carry on with cleansing his face.

His body instantly relaxed, and he laid his head back down fully with a sigh, "I need to talk to General Skywalker, there's something he has to know; that you all have to know."

I furrowed my brows; confused on what could be so important, "He's on Coruscant with Padme-"

He shot his body up with wide eyes, nearly causing me to drop the cloth in my hand, "No it's a trap, Max said it was a trap," He spoke quickly as he tried to stand up, but I forcefully pushed him back down before he overworked his body, and slipped back into unconsciousness.

"What the hell do you mean it's a trap?" I questioned with concern.

I could hear the front door opening from behind me, but I didn't bother to turn around since I could already feel who it was.

"Lilith is still alive," He revealed, and I stood up straight with wide eyes; my breathing halted for a few seconds as my body fell into a deep shock. How? If she is then why didn't she come to us?

There was the sound of glass shattering behind me, which startled me out of my trance, "What do you mean she's alive?" Cal asked; stepping up towards us as he gazed down at Dax with a look of hope.

Dax shook his head, "Don't get your hopes up kid, something isn't right with her - she almost killed Max," His voice cracked and both Cal and I felt a new kind of shock over this startling revelation. Even before she would never lay her hands on the four, she still had a deep care for them despite her shift.. what the hell is going on?

Cal took one step back, looking just as confused as I felt, "What happened to her? Was it the Emperor?"

"I don't know what the Emperor did to her, but he had her locked in a room for hours, and we all heard her screaming. Then when she came out; she was different, more cold, more hateful," He dropped his gaze down, but I didn't kiss the tear that feel, "She's also hell bent on getting her claws into General Skywalker; the Senator is only bait."

Cal instantly spun on his heels; power-walking away from us, "Where are you going?" I tried to follow him, but I was abruptly stopped in place.

He turned his head to side-eye me, and I could see his hand raised into a fist; he was using the force to keep me from following him, "I'm going to see if she really is alive, and I'm going to make sure nothing happens to Master Skywalker."

"Let me go with you," I begged; fearing how dangerous this might be.

From what Dax said.. it seems like she's really not herself; (y/n) would never hurt Max. And also, we all left on semi-good terms with her, especially with Anakin since they.. I may have overheard a grown-up conversation, but that's not the point. The point is; what the hell did Sidious do to her to make her like this? Why would she be after Anakin again?

Nothing is making sense, and I have a really bad feeling about it all.

He shook his head, "They need you here to care for the wounded and Grogu. I'll get Master Yoda to go with me okay? I'll be fine, but I have to go now, Master Skywalker has been gone a long time already, and I need to help him if what Dax is saying is true," He tried to get me to understand his perspective, "(y/n) is his weakness and you and I both know he'll freeze if he sees her." And she'll have a perfect opportunity to kill him, if that's what she actually wants.

I slowly nodded in understanding, someone also has to be here to protect the wounded - seeing as Master Kenobi isn't in the best shape to fight or defend, "Take my mom too, the more of you together; the better I'll feel."

He released his hold and turned around to walk towards me, "Okay, her and Yoda will be with me," He cupped my face gently; his emerald eyes peered into mine with a hidden apology, as well as love, "I'll be back soon okay? I promise." He bent down and softly pressed his lips to mine, which only lasted for one blissful moment before he ended it, "I love you."

I sighed, hating how easily he can get me to stop putting up a fight, "I love you too, and you better come back."

He smiled as he walked backwards towards the door, "You know I will starlight." He assured me with a wink before exiting the cabin.

The moment he was gone; my stomach twisted into a painful knot - I had a horrible feeling someone wasn't going to come back.

Anakin's POV
"Sorry I couldn't remember what you liked," Padme appeared from her kitchen area after being gone for nearly ten minutes; holding a tray that held a variety of drinks.

"It's fine," I assured her as she sat down next to me and set the tray of beverages on the coffee table in front of us.

I didn't want to be rude and tell her that a drink was the last thing I cared about right now. I came for one reason and one reason alone; to hear what she has to say about (y/n).

But to be polite, since that's the way my mother and Obi-Wan taught me to be; I picked up a random drink and took a fairly small sip before setting it down.

She eyed my movements, "You should drink more, you look parched." She suggested with an awkward chuckle.

I shook my head, "I'm alright. So you said in the transmission that you had information about (y/n), is she really-" I broke off, and I nearly got brought to tears for the hundredth time when Padme slowly nodded with a somber expression.

She reached over and placed a hand on my thigh, before squeezing it gently, "I'm sorry Ani - she's dead."

I nodded without saying anything as I wiped my tears out from under my eyes, "Its fine, I already knew she was - I just stupidly allowed myself to have some sliver of hope," I adjusted my position on the couch, scooting away slightly so her hand would fall off of my thigh. I'm sure the gesture was innocent, but after my history with her—on this very couch—I can't help but be a bit cautious, "What else did you need to tell me? You seemed adamant on meeting with me in your message."

She cleared her throat and fidgeted in her seat, like she was uncomfortable. I turned my head to look at her with knitted brows, "Is everything okay?" I asked as I glanced down to her small hands that were nervously tugging on her silk night gown.

She met my gaze and quickly plastered a smile across her lips, "Yes everything is fine, I um-" She scooted a little closer to me, despite me clearly scooting away less than a minute ago, "I wanted to give you my condolences; she had told me previously, in the midst of torture, that you and her had fallen out of love - but I didn't believe it," She gave me a sad smile, "You're a passionate man, and I know that despite what she turned into; you still loved her." Padme placed her hand on my shoulder.

I nodded as I took a deep breath, "Yeah I did, I do," I corrected myself, because despite her being gone - the love I feel for her is still alive.

Padmé's hand went from my shoulder, to my back as she got closer and grabbed the glass I had taken a sip of from the tray, "This will make you feel better, it'll ease your nerves." She held it out towards me.

I sighed as I grabbed it and took another small drink of it, realizing that it had a fruity, yet bitter, alcohol-like taste, "What the hell is this?"

"Red wine, the same one from that one day," She revealed as I set the glass back down.

"Right that was day I realized I'm not a wine person," I shrugged my shoulder, making her hand that was resting in my back to fall, "Padme," I sighed, "If you mainly called me here because you think with (y/n) gone, there's an open opportunity for us," I stood up and straightened my shirt, "There isn't." I attempted to leave so I could stand on the balcony and place a call to Mando.

She quickly stood up and blocked my path, "No you can't leave." She spoke quickly.

I chuckled as I waved two fingers to move her out of my way with the force, "Yes I can."

She looked like she was in full panic mode as I walked past her. She instantly grabbed my arm to stop me, which only irritated me, "Wait, I still have feelings you," She blurted out as she turned her head to the side where her clock was and checked the time.

Did she think that would convince me to stay? I'm mourning my fiancé and she really thinks I want to discuss her unrequited for me?

I pulled my arm from her grip, "I'm sorry the feeling isn't mutual, still." I began to walk away again.

"She not dead!" She finally shouted; now I finally stopped on my own accord.

With the blood in my veins pumping erratically, I turned my head slightly - just enough to see her from the corner of my eyes, "What did you say?" I asked with hope.

Padme swallowed nervously, "She's aliv-"

She was cut off my an explosion that was strong enough to shake the entire building.

༻✦༺
Finally I got this done, it was sitting halfway finished for like five days 😂
༻✦༺