A Path Less Taken

Chapter 5 - Changing Perceptions

"I was wondering when you'd be up," Anakin said without even turning around.

"Remind me to never go along with another one of your suggestions again," Ahsoka said, yawning and stretching as she rounded the corner of the room she just exited. "Where are we?"

"Hotel. Padme knows the Queen, so indirectly, she knows me. I was able to get us a place in here because of her after I told her of our problems with the Council. She understands after what I told her what happened, so she's paying this off for us until we get moving," Anakin said.

"You were able to do all that after an entire night of partying?" Ahsoka questioned.

"Pure will Snips. Pure will. I was not going to have either one of us sleeping on the streets," Anakin said he lifted a footlong sandwich and cut it in half with his lightsaber, catching the pieces before they hit the ground and tossing a half to Ahsoka.

"Shouldn't we be having breakfast?" she said, before pinching the bridge of her nose in realization. "It's the afternoon, isn't it?"

"Yup," Anakin said in a chipper tone before taking a bite of the sandwich he made.

"You've obviously had less sleep than me, so how are you so upbeat after an entire night of dancing, drinking, and excitement at a nightclub?" Ahsoka asked.

"Cause I'm much more peaceful. I'm away from the Council, I have you with me, and I no longer have to hide my marriage," Anakin said idly, taking a bite of his sandwich. Though Ahsoka dropped the half she was holding, but Anakin caught it with no physical movement before raising it back up to her hands. "Don't drop your lunch now."

"You've been married?!" Ahsoka exclaimed, her mouth slack with shock. "For how long, who with, why wasn't I invited?"

"Since the start of the Clone Wars, Padme Amidala, and you weren't invited because I didn't know you then. If I did, you probably would've been a bridesmaid. Padme likes you," Anakin said, taking another bite from the sandwich in his hands.

"So that's why you show so much concern for her. Even when I walked out of certain death barely alive," Ahsoka said, remembering the time of the Blue Shadow Virus.

"Yes. But you were on my mind as well. Never forget that. You two are definitely the most important women in my life," Anakin said. Ahsoka smiled before her look turned into one somewhat offended.

"Hey! We're the only women in your life!" she exclaimed. Anakin's passive look quickly turned into laughter, shortly joined by Ahsoka, who punched him on the shoulder playfully. The day just started for both of them, and here they were. Already having fun.

"I have a few more developments for you. First of all, I'm rebuilding the Twilight," Anakin said, making Ahsoka gasp in pleasant surprise. "Yup. I sold the shuttle we've been using, and soon we'll have the Twilight back. But it won't be called the Twilight this time around."

"Doesn't matter. It's still the Twilight. I'm helping," Ahsoka said, her words coming out in a flurry that was about as fast as her saber strikes.

"If you think I was not going to include you in the building process, you're crazy. Can't have you being lazy now," Anakin said, waggling a finger at her. Ahsoka shook her head.

"Alright, what's the other developments?" she asked.

"It's actually just one more. We're going to start training today. Firstly, there's a technique I want to teach you. It's one that I've used every once in a while, but it's been quite useful for me," Anakin said, turning to face her after he finished his sandwich. His hands were together, and his face was deadly serious. Her master was back again.