She kissed him first -- knowing as soon as she did it that it was a terrible idea, but unable to resist finally carving out something fresh and wonderful out of the unending war, the tides that never seemed to be turning, the way that fighting and fighting left no room for gentleness, no room for breathing, and in the aftermath of this battle they had both again barely survived, she dove for Anakin and kissed him hard on the mouth.

She knew it was wrong, the way he kissed her back, his arms coming up and encircling her, his metal hand fisted in the fabric of her dress, and surely everyone was watching, everyone would see, that she'd finally given up on fighting a war against her feelings on two fronts.

Anakin tensed and they rolled on instinct, aware from the brup-brup-slam of blaster fire, and she realized he was laughing, and somehow she was too, her arms around his neck, feeling her heart pounding in her chest and his an answer, a daring escape.