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(a/n): It's been a while since I updated so feel free to skim through the last chapter if you need a refresher! And this chapter is pretty long, about 6k words so definitely take breaks if you need💗

Obi-Wan POV:

In Alderaan...

"Why are you here, of all places?" I asked skeptically to the once notorious, red-haired Mandalorian standing before me.

She used to be a lieutenant in Death Watch, a terrorist group sought on undoing Duchess Satine's pacifistic ways, believing that Mandalore should have taken pride in its martial history. But when the Sith Lord Darth Maul challenged Governor Vizsla to the throne and won, Bo-Kayan realized the error of Death Watch and the tyranny it brought. At the time, I had been there to help save Duchess Satine from her imprisonment, but sadly she was still killed in the end by Maul. The memory still pains me to think about since I wasn't able to save her.

Though Bo-Katan has moved on from Death Watch and it's heinous ways, I still felt hesitant to let her in the palace.

"Why should I tell you?" She countered, resting one hand on her hip while the other held her helmet. "And I could ask you the same question."

"I am here for a mission to protect the royal family." I informed her, curtly. "So it is my job to help monitor who all enters the palace gates."

She rolled her eyes, "Back to being a lapdog for the Jedi, I see." She sighed, "Why I'm here is none of your concern, regardless."

My jaw clenched. Why does she always have to be so difficult?

"It is my concern, as a matter of fact. How do I know you won't try and commit regicide? Or blow this entire planet to smithereens?" I queried, furthering my argument to see if I could trust her or not.

Becoming irritated, she pinched the bridge of her nose, "Even if I wanted to do either of those—which I don't—it wouldn't benefit me in any way." She explained as calmly as her temper would allow.

I prepared to make another argument, but she pushed past me before I could even get a word out. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be."

I turned around in disbelief, and watched her stalk down the long, elegant hallway in determined strides. But I sensed something else that genuinely surprised me. Fear. For herself, or someone or something else, I didn't know. But I could feel it heavily radiating off of her signature.

It didn't make sense to me; Bo-Katan, afraid? Now I'm more curious than before.

I followed after her at a hurried pace, closing the double doors before doing so. The flickering light of the blazing sun filtered across her figure, illuminating the faded blue and silver colors of her armor, and making her hair glow like a mirage of lambent fire.

"If you truly have no ill intentions, then I do not understand why you can't simply tell me your reasoning for being here." I persisted as I walked side by side with her.

"That's between me and Queen Lilliana." She spoke without looking at me. "And I'd prefer to have my conversation with her without you breathing down my neck the entire time." She said flatly.

"I'm only doing my job." I reminded her, my voice tart. I can see how she might think I'm being too skeptical or overbearing, but I cannot understand what has her so reluctant to reveal why she's here. And, whatever it is certainly has taken a toll on her usual poised energy.

She laughed drily, "If your job is hounding me every chance you get, then you're doing it fantastically." Her words were laced with derisiveness.

"Thank you for the feedback..." I muttered sarcastically.

This conversation is getting me nowhere. I suppose I may need to take her word for now, while still remaining cautious. Thankfully she hasn't given me a reason to not trust her.

No more words were spoken between us as we continued on our path to the throne room, which resided behind more grand double doors. I grabbed the wooden handle of one door, and her the other, and both opened simultaneously with a harsh creak.

The Queen was back on her throne, currently in conversation with two guards. Though she looked awfully uninterested in whatever was being said.

Then I sensed something. I glanced at Bo-Katan in surprise when I noticed her stiffen as she fixed her eyes on Lilliana. Her fear had spiked immensely. She is extremely anxious about something involving the monarch in front of us, though I am still puzzled as to what it could be.

Lilliana eventually sent her guards off to their posts, and finally turned her attention towards us. And by us, I mean that her gaze was only fixed on Bo-Katan; staring at her with an expression I could not read.

She blinked, and it looked as if her mind finally processed what was happening. "Bo-Katan Kryze." She spoke the name of the Mandalorian next to me with an edge of shock in her tone.

Bo-Katan gave a stiff bow in response, "Your Highness."

This is continuing to grow more strange by the second. I felt like the odd man out between the two of them. There is definitely something they know that I don't.

"Obi-Wan." Lilliana's smooth, regal voice grabbed my attention. "Would you leave us, please?"

"With all due respect, my Queen, I think it would be better if I stayed." I crossed my arms obstinately.

She sighed after a few silent moments, "If you insist." She cleared her throat, "Anyways, it is lovely to see you, Bo. I hear that you're now the regent of Mandalore. Is that going well?"

"Yes it's—it's fine, Mandalore is fine." Bo-Katan sighed, stepping forward. "You know why I'm here."

Lilliana rose an eyebrow, "Do I?" She asked, not rudely, but genuinely curious. Her back straightened as she leaned forward ever so slightly, creating a momentary glimmer within the jewels of her crown.

Bo-Katan shut her eyes, clearly frustrated at being made to say whatever was on her mind out loud.

"You can trust him." She assured when Bo-Katan still didn't say anything. "Can't she, Obi-Wan?" She turned to me with a look that practically dared me to say anything other than yes.

"Yes." I nodded hesitantly. My response sounded more like a question than a statement, because I'm still extremely lost as to what is happening.

Bo-Katan scoffed, "How can I trust him if he doesn't even trust me?"

I stared at her with an incredulous look, "I'm not the one who travelled halfway across the galaxy with no given explanation."

"You know," She chuckled humorlessly, "I liked you better when you didn't have such an enormous stick up your ass."

"Well, it certainly takes one to know one." I muttered.

"Enough, both of you." Lilliana commanded, exasperated by our bickering. She smoothed out her purple dress, looking between the two of us, "Bo, please continue."

A quiet sigh came from the Mandalorian next to me, before she finally lifted her gaze. "I came here because I needed to know....is she alright?"

My eyebrows knitted in bewilderment. Who is she talking about?

The Queen simply stared at her with a blank expression; not harsh or unkind, just unreadable. But her features remained soft and calm.

"Yes." She finally responded, nodding. "She is alright."

And suddenly, it was as if the weight of the world had lifted from Bo-Katan's shoulders. She sighed in relief at the information, and relaxed her posture. Her fear completely dissipated.

"Could one of you please fill me in? Who is 'she'?" I asked confusedly, my eyes darting between the two of them.

The Mandalorian hesitated, and shut her eyes once more for a few short moments. "My daughter." She admitted quietly.

My eyes widened in shock as I put two and two together. Avery is her daughter? I knew she was adopted; all of Alderaan knows that. But no one ever knew who either of her biological parents were. At least, until now. I never would have guessed that Bo-Katan of all people would have had a child.

And suddenly, it all started to make sense; why she has been acting so strange since the moment she set foot in this palace, and her insanely tangible fear. Now I understand why she wanted to keep that information a secret. It could easily be used against her by an enemy.

She shot me a threatening glare, "If you tell anyone about this," She seethed slowly, "A stick up your ass will be the least of your issues."

I couldn't help but smile and let out a laugh, feeling slightly embarrassed that I had accused her of being here for such ludicrous reasons.

"I can assure you that I will not tell a soul." I promised her. "Your daughter is lovely, and I would never want to put her in harms way."

For the first time today, she smiled, and nodded in thanks.

"I am wondering though, why are you so concerned for her safety that you came all the way to Alderaan?" I questioned curiously.

"Well, that's not the only reason I came here." She looked up at Lilliana once more, straightening her posture, and seeming once more like the stubborn, free-spirited Mandalorian I once knew. "The citizens of Mandalore—especially the Clans—are known for gossiping quite often. And most of the time, the crap they constantly share with each other is never true. Although, as of recently, there's something I've been hearing all the time, almost every day. Something that hasn't been talked about in years." 

Dread pooled in my stomach as I processed her words. There is only one thing she could've been hearing that made her come all this way.

I looked over at Lilliana to see if she was just as horrified as I felt, but once again her expression gave nothing away. She just patiently waited for Bo-Katan to continue.

She hesitated, struggling to find her words, before finally continuing, "I've been hearing rumors that The Lost Queen—your first daughter—is alive."

My heart pounded harshly against my sternum. I had already known that Alastair had begun to spread the rumor that (y/n) is alive, but I had no idea that the rumor has already made it all the way to Mandalore. Who knows how far around the galaxy it has spread?

"Normally, I might not have looked into it so much. But this wasn't just any rumor; it had come all the way from Dantooine." She revealed, her emerald green eyes clouding with trepidation.

A good portion of the galaxy knew about the harrowing battle between Alderaan and Dantooine all those years ago. They knew that Alastair's father had killed the King, and after it was announced that his daughter—(y/n)—had been crowned Queen, she had suddenly 'disappeared'.

So, since this rumor is coming directly from him, it's not surprising that many people are beginning to take it seriously.

"What exactly is it that you're asking?" Lilliana questioned, shifting in her seat. I sensed that she was growing more wary, with this new knowledge that the galaxy is beginning to awaken the idea that her daughter could be alive, meaning that rogues, politicians, bounty hunters, or anything of that sort could potentially be out looking for her.

Bo-Katan narrowed her eyes, "Well, is it true?" She pressed, asking the question like it was obvious. "That's why I came here to ask about my daughter." She clarified, "I didn't know if this information had caused a riot or violent protest on this planet. Royals can never be too careful." She sighed regretfully, shaking her head. I got the feeling that her last sentence had more meaning towards the memory of her sister.

I glanced at Lilliana with an apprehensive expression. Would she tell Bo-Katan the truth? It seems as if they trust each other; the fact that  she gave up her one and only child to Lilliana would've required a great deal of trust. But at the same time, everyone who knows (y/n)'s identity has gone to vast lengths to ensure that no one else finds out. Even if we trust someone—or assume we can trust them—the information could still slip out at any moment.

She cast her gaze towards me for a mere second, before turning it forward once more.

"Yes." She spoke at last, taking both me and Bo-Katan by surprise.

Her eyes widened with shock, and she staggered, her armor clanking as she took a step back. "What? But—" She gazed downwards, taking in the information that was bluntly revealed to her. "I don't understand. I simply had a theory that she could be alive, but..." She cut off her sentence, shaking her head. "How is she alive? Is she even safe?"

"Yes, she's been in good hands." Lilliana answered confidently. "She's force sensitive, so the Jedi have trained her and have been looking after her. But only Obi-Wan and Master Yoda know her true identity." She smoothed out her dress again, this time standing from her throne and taking elegant steps down the small stairway-like ramp that led to where she sat. She seemed so calm, and remained as regal as ever despite our circumstances.

A thought struck me just then. Before Luca was killed by Anakin, he had contacted Alastair and told him that (y/n) is a Jedi. Since he's now aware of that, why didn't he include that piece of information in his rumor?

"Alastair knows that she is a Jedi, so why didn't he mention that in his rumor?" I questioned as she came to stand beside Bo-Katan, after giving her a quick hug as an informal greeting. She must not get hugged very often, because the look of shock etched onto her features was not hard to miss.

Lilliana sighed in irritation, "Because he wants to marry her, so that he can take control over our kingdom as well as his." She reminded me. "Had he revealed her location, the Jedi Temple would have become swarmed with who knows how many criminals. They'll go after her just as much as him; and I know that hellhound will stop at nothing to have her all to himself." She growled spitefully, portraying her unyielding protectiveness over her daughter.

Bo-Katan scoffed; not rudely, but more so in disbelief. "I'm still lost as to how this all happened." She turned to Lilliana, raising an eyebrow, "This sounds like an extremely unpredictable and speculative situation. Have you thought any of this through? Or at least come up with a plan in case he reaches her?" She practically demanded, making both of my eyebrows rise in shock that she used a tone that bold with the Queen.

Lilliana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "It is not that simple. There is only so much I can do, seeing as we've had to keep her identity a secret for all these years. If a war is to come, the Jedi will keep her safe. And I have an infantry of my own." She affirmed confidently.

Bo-Katan groaned, bringing her hand up to her forehead. "That's not enough, Lilliana." She growled. "You have to think with your brain. You can't throw a group of soldiers or Jedi together and expect them to protect a Queen that they aren't familiar with. We need to come up with an actual plan in case of any and all possibilities, primarily considering the fact that we don't know how armed Dantooine is." She reasoned her points valiantly, and I was still in shock that she spoke to Lilliana like that.

Though, I had to agree with her; having a plan is much better than walking into battle with the assumption that everything will go our way.

Lilliana looked at her in surprise, "You said 'we.' Does that mean I can rely on Mandalore to provide aid in the chance that a war does in fact take place?"

That's not a bad idea. Having more soldiers, and another planet on our side is sure to bestow upon us a vast amount of assistance.

Bo-Katan sighed, shrugging, "I don't see why not. As long as I know that my daughter will also be safe."

"She will be." I assured her, stepping closer to the two of them. "We'll fill you in on more details about Alastair; but for now, we must come up with a plan and quick."

(y/n) POV:

In Coruscant...

I woke up to the sound of soft footsteps and a door gently creaking open, then closing.

Groggily, I sat up in confusion. My vision eventually adjusted in the darkness, and I noticed that the bed felt strangely void.

I looked beside me to see an empty space where Anakin usually would lay. It must've been him who opened and shut our door, leaving the room for whatever reason.

Curious, I threw my legs off the side of the bed—the cold air chilling my bare skin—and left the room to find him. All I had on were loose shorts and a thinly fabricated shirt, so I felt another cold breeze as I entered the main room of our quarters.

I turned on the light, but didn't see him here either. For a moment I remained where I stood, glancing around the room occasionally as my half asleep brain attempted to fully wake up. I couldn't think of anywhere else in our quarters he would be, unless he actually left through the main door.

I trudged further down the main room, and through a small hallway that led to our tiny kitchen. That's when a flash of moonlight streamed across my face and down the rest of my body, reminding me that beside the kitchen resided a glass door that leads to our outside balcony. And there, I saw Anakin's tall, broad silhouette. His back was turned in my direction, and he stood looking out into the endless night, filled with thousands of speeders racing across Coruscant's starry sky.

I stepped towards the glass door—my vision becoming enveloped more and more with streaks of starlight—and opened it with ease. Anakin didn't turn around, nor acknowledged my presence.

I shivered at the freezing temperature that but at my skin, and wrapped my arms around myself protectively.

"Baby, what are you doing out here? It's freezing, come inside." I urged him softly, reaching out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. He flinched as I did so, causing alarm to ring in my body. As I touched him, I felt that his usually calm and confident energy was now rocky and unsteady. Tumultuous.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, growing concerned.

"Of course I am." He grumbled without looking at me, his hands gripping the top most railing on the wall that outlined our balcony. "Why wouldn't I be?" He asked in a tone that seemed to imply he didn't want an answer.

But I wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily.

I blinked in confusion, furrowing my brows, "I don't know if you don't tell me."

He didn't respond. His muscles tensed under his thin, white tank top. And I noticed a bead of sweat drip down the side of his forehead, eventually getting caught on a strand of one of his blond curls.

"Please talk to me." I persisted. "No secrets." I reminded him, though I didn't feel like I had the right to say those words, considering I still had a secret of my own.

I've still been trying to find a way to tell him, but its not as easy as some may think. This is my true identity that I would be revealing, which not only could put me in danger, but it would definitely put him in danger. That's the main reason why I don't want to tell him; just knowing who I am will put him in the line of fire between me and anyone who wants to put me in harms way.

That and, as selfish as this sounds, I'm genuinely afraid of his