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"Ahsoka, you are making a mistake."
Anakin turned to the side, finding it harder and harder to face his Padawan. Even though he felt justified in trying to persuade her to stay, a small part of him knew there was no coming back for her. At least not yet.
"Maybe," Ahsoka replied, turning to face Anakin again. "But I have to sort this out on my own. Without the Council. And without you."
Ahsoka turned her back on Anakin completely. But Anakin still wasn't quite ready to let her go.
"I understand," he said, still not facing his Padawan. "More than you realize, I understand wanting to walk away from the Order."
Ahsoka half turned back toward Anakin.
"I know."
Anakin's eyes widened in surprise and he turned back to face Ahsoka, whose back was still to him. Without another word, Ahsoka started walking again. If Anakin had followed her, he might have seen the tear that was falling down her face as she forced herself to keep walking, even though a small part of her wanted to turn back. She descended the steps and disappeared from view.
Anakin simply stared as he watched Ahsoka fade from view. He had never expected this. Ahsoka disagreeing with the Council and not wanting anything to do with them, sure. Or even asking to immediately go out on a mission with him so they could forget about all of the terrible things that had happened to her over the past few days. But walking away from the Jedi Order? Walking away from him? Anakin wasn't sure how to cope with that.
As he stood staring off into the busy travel lanes of Coruscant, a tear fell down his face. Maybe if he had acted faster in solving the crime, Ahsoka wouldn't have left the Jedi, left him. Maybe if he had fought harder for his Padawan, the Council would have listened. Maybe then they would have had Ahsoka's back just like he did. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
"Anakin."
Even with how upset he was at the whole situation, he couldn't help but smile slightly at the sound of the familiar voice. He turned and faced his former master, who looked just as upset as Anakin was feeling.
"Are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked in a gentle voice.
Anakin opened his mouth to respond, but found he didn't have the words to verbally express how he was feeling.
"Sorry, stupid question," Obi-Wan said, looking cross with himself. "Of course you're upset. I am too, if I'm being honest."
"Do you believe what the Council said? That this was Ahsoka's great trial?"
"No. I don't believe that for a moment. I think Master Windu just needed something to justify what happened with all of this. Honestly, I thought we would all simply accept blame for what happened and apologize to Ahsoka for accusing her. It never should have happened."
"So why did it happen?" Anakin asked, struggling to keep his frustration at bay.
"I don't know, Anakin. I wish I had the answers. Believe me, I didn't agree with the Council on this one. You remember when Master Yoda said the Council was not unanimous in its decision to expel Ahsoka?"
Anakin nodded. He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was going.
"The rest of the Council were ready to expel Ahsoka right away, but I cautioned them against it,” said Obi-Wan. “I told them we needed to trust Ahsoka and look at the facts objectively before casting her out of the Order. But I was overruled. For what it's worth, Anakin, I tried."
Anakin sighed before he nodded at Obi-Wan.
"I know," he said. "I know you tried, Obi-Wan. When Master Yoda said the decision wasn't unanimous, I knew for sure you had spoken up."
"Master Plo also voted against expelling Ahsoka, for what it's worth. He and I agreed there was no way she could have attacked the Temple. Especially because she was nowhere near the Temple or even on the planet when the bombing happened."
"That's what made it so frustrating for me! Ahsoka was with me far away fighting on the front lines when the attack happened. How could the Council have forgotten that?"
"We live in strange times, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "Believe me when I say I don't condone the Council's actions with regard to Ahsoka. I can understand the rush to judgment, but I certainly don't agree with it."
Anakin nodded again.
"Thank you, Obi-Wan."
"Are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked again.
"No, but I think I will be. I just need some time."
"Of course."
As soon as the door to the apartment opened, Anakin was nearly tackled by a familiar protocol droid.
"Oh, Master Ani, I'm terribly sorry!" Threepio exclaimed, attempting to balance the tray of plates and drinks he was carrying while also trying not to trip over himself.
"That's all right, Threepio," Anakin replied, smiling in spite of the negative mood he had been in. "What's for dinner?"
"Some lovely dishes from Naboo that Mistress Padmé had catered in. Dinner will be ready shortly."
"Thank you, old friend," Anakin said, giving Threepio a pat on the shoulder as he continued into the apartment.
Padmé was staring out at the sunset on the terrace. Artoo was standing next to her, also staring out at the sunset. Anakin sat down next to them and Artoo whistled a greeting at him.
"I'm okay for now, buddy," Anakin said, unsure how to break the news to his faithful astromech.
Padmé turned at the sound of his voice.
"I didn't even hear you come in!" she said, although she looked pleasantly surprised to see him. "How are you? How's Ahsoka?"
Anakin winced at the sound of his Padawan's name. Former Padawan's name. It was going to take some time to no longer think of Ahsoka as his Padawan. Perhaps he would never be able to not think of her as such.
"She's gone," he said in a low voice.
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Padmé asked, frowning.
Anakin took a deep breath. The words were forming in his mouth, but he didn't want to say it out loud. That would make it all the more real. Still, there was no denying reality.
"She's left the Jedi Order."
Padmé gasped while Artoo let out a set of sad sounding beeps. He even lowered his head in a way a person might when they started crying.
"Oh my goodness," Padmé said when she got over the initial shock. "I can't believe she's left. Did you try to talk to her?"
"Of course I did!" Anakin snapped. Padmé flinched slightly and Anakin took a breath to calm himself down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I did try to talk to her."
"What did she say?"
"She told me the Council didn't trust her and she didn't know how to trust herself. I tried to convince her to stay, but she told me she needed to sort things out. Without the Council. And without me."
"Oh Anakin, I'm so sorry," Padmé said, scooting closer to her husband and wrapping her arms around him.
Anakin leaned into Padmé’s embrace, and finally let some tears fall. He felt the wave of emotions come crashing down as he let it all out and Padmé rocked him and whispered words of comfort while he cried. After several moments, he finally stopped crying and he sat up, wiping the tears away.
"Sorry," he said.
"Ani, you don't have to apologize for showing emotion."
"But I'm a Jedi. And we're supposed to be able to resist attachment."
"And I will be the first person to tell you that that is a ridiculous notion," Padmé said, sounding slightly cross. "Besides, you didn't let that stop you from marrying me, did you?"
Anakin chuckled. "No, I suppose not."
"And you're allowed to be upset about Ahsoka leaving, Ani. She was your student. Really, she was like your younger sister in so many ways. The way you two bonded, you reminded me of me and my sister when we were younger."
"Is that a good thing?" Anakin asked, having no clue how siblings behaved.
"Oh yes, Ani, it's a good thing. You did your best to teach Ahsoka the ways of the Jedi and the Force. Just like a big brother should teach a little sister. You weren't perfect at it, but nobody is. I know she appreciated all that you did for her. Especially in the last few days as you fought to prove that she was innocent."
"A lot of good that did," Anakin muttered.
"You prevented Ahsoka from facing a terrible fate that might have included imprisonment or even death. Admiral Tarkin mentioned the possibility of a death sentence if she had been found guilty. You made it so she didn't face a terrible punishment for something she didn't do."
"I suppose you're right," Anakin said.
"And I know it hurts that she's gone now. But I have a feeling she'll be back before you know it. I think Ahsoka just needs some time to process everything. We need to give her the space to do that."
Anakin nodded.
"That makes a lot of sense. No wonder I married you."
Padmé smiled. "You married me for a lot more than that," she said, leaning down and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "We'll see Ahsoka again soon. I'm sure of it. If she's anything like you, she won't be able to stay away for too long. She'll miss the action of the front lines."
"True. But she may not want to return to the Jedi Order. And honestly I can't say I blame her."
"Well who says she has to be a Jedi?" Padmé asked. "She could still be trained in the ways of the Force and serve the galaxy in her own way."
"That is an interesting thought," Anakin said. “Maybe that’s something for me to think about as well.”
“You two could start your own Order,” Padmé said with a smile. “But I shudder to think of you having so many apprentices.”
“What’s wrong with me being a teacher?” Anakin asked with mock offense.
“Nothing. As long as you are as good a teacher to all your students as you have been to Ahsoka.”