- CASTLES CRUMBLING (A.S.) -

- 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 -

flashes of the battle come back to me in a blur

LYING ON HER BACK with her hands supporting her head, Regina gazed at the stars that twinkled high above her. Even from this spot in her flat in the middle of Coruscant, she could feel the vastness and enormity of the galaxy; the universe, for that matter.

But she wasn't alone, and as much as she liked being by herself, she was grateful for the company. His company.

"What are you thinking about?" Anakin inquired, turning his head to look at her. The couple was relaxing on their bed, the skylight above their heads pulled back to reveal the starry night above them.

"Just stuff that will ruin the moment," she informed him, not taking her eyes from the sky above them.

Anakin chuckled.

"You're thinking about the mission."

"I am not," she insisted. She focused on the stars, knowing that he was right but not willing to admit it. Anakin only laughed again, this time rolling over so that he could wrap his arm around her waist, nuzzling into the nape of her neck.

"We'll be fine," Skywalker finally said after a while. "Besides, this time you'll have me with you."

Regina resisted the urge to chuckle herself.

"That's exactly what I'm worried about, Skywalker."

Anakin laughed again; she loved the sound.

"Like I said, Sitara, don't worry."

A sigh emitted from Regina's lips. She knew he was right, she really did. But that didn't mean she'd tell him that. Like he said, everything would be fine. This was just a normal mission, one that happened to have Skywalker tagging along.

They'd been briefed that very morning, right after Regina had returned from the Outer Rim. The Council was really setting Regina to work and she knew that if she kept this much longer, she'd be burnt out. Not that this particular mission was anything she couldn't handle. Besides, like Skywalker had said, this time she had him with her.

Apparently the Council saw the success they'd made with putting the two of them together and planned future missions for the duo. Which was totally fine to the newly-weds. The more time with each other the better.

"You need to sleep, Genie."

Regina put her hand over Skywalker's, feeling the cool metal of his right prosthetic over her body. She looked up at the night sky one more time before shutting her eyes, knowing that her husband was right.

"Goodnight, Skywalker."

"Goodnight, Sitara."

✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩

"Sitara, this is Captain Rex," Anakin said, introducing Regina to the clone captain. Regina smiled and nodded to the blue-clad clone who saluted at her.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, General," Captain Rex told Regina. As they exchanged formalities—this included the introduction of Commander Blue—Regina took in Anakin's battalion, the 501st.

The first impression Regina got was how the blue of the battalion's armor contrasted with the green of her own troopers. She also noticed how mannerisms were different in Anakin's clones compared to her own. It seemed that, even though he'd been with them for a very short time, Anakin had become a great influence over them. And, seemingly, she'd been the same on the 555th. Yet somehow she knew that she and Rex were going to get on extremely well, most likely much better than Anakin and Blue would.