'Star Wars the Clone Wars': Chapter Five

~~Lina P.O.V~~

After the negotiation with Jabba, the Republic was able to enter Tatooine without any trouble. Master Kenobi, Master Yoda, and Karri arrived to Jabba's Palace to negotiate more terms with trading routes and treaty which was forming. Master Kenobi, Master Yoda, and Karri stayed on the depressing dirt ball planet while Anakin and I went back to the Jedi Cruiser. Anakin went to command center to report back to the Jedi Temple to update with the mission. As for me, I went searching for Rex but I grew worried because I couldn’t find him. I asked a trooper where he went and he said he was in the infirmary, and then another trooper said he was at the bridge or the hanger bay but Rex wasn't in either places. This caused me to worry even more.

After searching the entire Jedi Cruiser, I went back to my quarters and I couldn't believe to see who was in there. It was Rex.

I saw Rex sitting at my desk with his blasters and his helmet. Rex turned in the chair and met my eyes.

He smiled as he stood from the chair, "Welcome back. So how was your side of the mission, Lil' Skywalker?"

"Rex!" I tackled Rex into a hug. He nearly lost his balance but then, caught it. His arms wrapped around me for a moment but then he had to let go. I looked up to him and hit his chest plate very hard — hard enough for him to feel it.

"Ow!" Rex winced as he frowned, "what did I do?"

"You idiot. I tried contacting you but your comlink was off!"

"I wanted to surprise you, Lil' Skywalker."

I glared at Rex, "I-I was worried sick about you! When I heard you were in the infirmary, I bolted over there and you weren’t there! I thought you had gotten hurt or even worse..." My voice began to trail off.

"Or even worse what?" Rex's soft eyes stared into mine.

"You.. might had died..." I mumbled as my head hung low.

Rex's hand slipped under my cheek, causing me to look into his eyes once again, "I promised you, didn't I?"

I nodded to him as I laid my hand on his, "Yes you did. And I promised too."

Our faces were few inches apart and we knew what we both wanted. It was pretty obvious our feelings for each other were mutual. Am I really ready to love again?

“Lina, I have something to say.” His thumb stroked on my chin as his eyes were completely captive on mine. “When I first saw you with General Skywalker, I just couldn’t keep my eyes off of you. I was completely drawn into how beautiful you are. I couldn’t believe someone like you could be so kriffing beautiful. These few days, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about your smile, your beauty, your beautiful blue eyes, and your enthusiastic personality. I have never felt this way for anyone before.” Rex let out a deep sigh, “I can’t afford to let someone like you go. I will do anything to be with you.” He removed his fingers from my chin and grabbed my hands. His fingers gripped onto mine. “I will break my oath to the Republic just to love you. I will leave the Republic just to love you.” Rex sighed again, “What do you say, Lil’ Skywalker?”

I took a moment to collect my thoughts. My love lingered for Rex. Just the way he was made me fall in love with him. “I do have mutual feelings for you too, Rex. It’s just too risky, you know? We would have to keep our love a secret.”

“I understand, Lil’ Skywalker. We can keep it a secret. We’ll meet on missions like this.”

“But how about when we’re not on missions? How would we meet?”

Rex took a moment to think about it. “I’ll visit you! We can meet elsewhere.”

“Where? The Jedi Temple? It’s too obvious.” The only way is to meet at Padme’s apartment complex. That is what Anakin, Karri, and I do sometimes. We basically live there, even if Padme isn’t there, we still stay there as if it was our home. We still stay living at the Jedi Temple, only if it’s necessary.

Rex frowned, “You’re right. This is too complicated. I guess we can’t —”

“Wait,” I said, tugging on his hands, “I didn’t say we can’t be together. We can still be together. We just have to think of something. We can work it out.”

Rex’s frown turned into a smile, “So you want to be together?”

I hesitated but then managed to nod. “Yes, we can be together as long we keep our love a secret from the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order.”

“I understand,” Rex let out a small laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s just, we barely met for a few days and we’re moving this quickly. We never expected this to happen. If you were assigned to some other Jedi, we wouldn’t have met — not like this.”

“Rex, nothing happens by accident. It is the will of the Force that I am Anakin’s Padawan. Nevertheless, the will of the Force lead me to you. Whatever the future holds, the Force will guide us. There’s a reason why our meeting was so unexpected. There’s a reason why our love for each other is so strong.”

Rex chuckled, “I believe it.” Rex’s hand departed from mine. He placed his hand under my cheek, "Commander Skywalker, may I have permission to kiss you?"

I swallowed, feeling nervous. I haven't been kissed since the last time I was with Jango.

"Permission granted, Captain." Rex isn't Jango.

With that said, Rex laid his lips on mines gently and then it turned into a kiss within seconds. It has been so long that I felt this way... I haven't felt in love like this before.

Rex and I departed our lips from each other, feeling our breath against our lips. His thumb caressed my cheek as we both stared at each other, breathless.

"Lina Skywalker, may I have permission to have your love?"

"It's already valid, Captain. You have already have my love."

Next: SWTCW: Chapter 6

Chapter 6 will be the Episode of SWTCW, "Rookies."

(If easier, find the next chapter on my profile)