Chapter Text
“Alright Rex,” Anakin says, slightly annoyed. He had wanted to get a few minutes of sleep before he had to report to the Council. Force knows he can’t remember the last time he slept for more than four hours. “What was so important that you needed to call us all the way back here…”
Anakin freezes. It… it couldn’t be.
On the holo, a familiar girl turns her head.
“Hello Master,” she says, voice and expression blank. Why? Anakin can only wonder. “It’s been awhile.”
Yes. Yes it has been. He’d missed her so much.
“Ahsoka,” Anakin says, still not quite believing it. He barely keeps his voice from cracking and thanks the Force for how distant his bond has become with Obi-Wan because he doesn’t have the strength to hide his emotions right now. “What are you doing here?”
Ahsoka smiles, softly. Her blank face still feels wrong. What might have she been up to and gotten into over the past year?
Anakin hates that he doesn’t know.
“I have information,” she says, but Anakin reads between the lines. She’s missed them, too.
And maybe, this time, he can get her to stay.
“It’s good to have you back, Ahsoka,” he says. His former Padawan’s real smile finally graces her face, and Anakin smiles back.
“Thank you, Anakin,” she says.
And, for the first time in months, Anakin feels a spark of hope.