AN: I feel so apprehensive about writing a Star Wars fan fic because I would call myself a complete newcomer when it comes to this fandom. But recently I have found myself in love with the tragic love story between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, so I had to write this story. It is slightly AU, and follows right after Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. My version of the story will tell of Padmé's survival and how that will shape the redemption of Vader and of course, their reunification! I hope you all will enjoy my attempt :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters. George Lucas is too cool for me.

Moonflies
the prologue

A time near her end…a time of dark beginnings.

The galaxy looked the same to him through eyes that felt nothing like his own. All around were millions of dancing stars speckled across a navy black canvas, seemingly reaching into an endless infinity. His mind felt a sudden pulse of pain, and he shut his eyes abruptly, though unseen by anyone looking at his cloaked figure. Everything felt foreign, every movement felt labored. Every pulse of his heart, his soul; hard, unforgiving, empty. And with his eyes shut tightly, he suddenly saw her face again.

It was blurry at first, a pale image in his otherwise hateful mind. But soon, with another forced, icy breath, he saw her face clearly, an angel forever etched in his visions. But he knew this was no ordinary vision. The Force wrapped around his monstrous legs, his armored hands, his masked face. For a moment, he breathed almost normally— and her beautiful face was real. This was real. Her sleeping, serene form was real.

But he knew she was not sleeping.

Pain filled him once more, but he refused to shake it away. He deserved the pain, and he wanted to see her face for just a moment longer. She was being carried down a path, with thousands of endearing onlookers staring at her beautiful form. They had tears brimming in their eyes, but the forever sleeping beauty did not stir from her glass casket. He watched with his breath caught in his dry, hollow throat as his angel was placed to rest.

The setting, distant light danced off of a small pendant clasped in her folded hands. His brow furrowed, and he saw it once again, her beautiful, small hands, and that pendant…that small, japor pendant. It once symbolized remembrance, a reminder to her of him, and now forever, she would still have it with her. A piece of him would watch over her. But that thought brought little comfort to his tortured soul.

Below her folded hands he saw what was once the greatest joy he had ever felt in his entire, pitiful life. A small but apparent bump of her abdomen was visible through the sheer, blue fabrics of her gown. She seemed to be placing her hands there to protect what was dear to her, what was left of their promised love.

It was too much to bear. He could not stand it any longer. He wanted to open his eyes, but it was as if the Force wanted him to suffer gravely, to watch his beloved forever entombed in glass, forever put away to memory on the tragically beautiful planet of Naboo. The procession had ended, and they had arrived at the double, ornate doors of her final resting place; a beautiful, tall spiraling glass tomb gilded with golden flowers and fairytale splendors.

Night fell upon the peaceful planet, and her casket was forever placed inside and sealed away.

Finally, his eyes sprang open, looking through those pathless hollows that were supposed to be his eyes. He did not move, but merely stared out at the blanket of stars blinking in their various distances. No Imperial stormtrooper hustling around behind him had noticed his momentary weakness. No one had noticed that wave of pain that had griped and squeezed out the last bit of humanity left in his heart. He had remained unmoving, his dark form intimidating, fearsome and awful as he had watched his beloved wife's funeral through his mind.

He raised his masked head to the heavens, and knew forgiveness would never be his.

With that, Darth Vader turned with a sharp whisk of his black cloak and walked briskly out of the observatory. No petty emotions or visions would ever again deter him. There were other more important matters of the Empire that he needed to attend to.

--

A gasp of cool air filled her throat and plummeted her lungs, nearly choking her. Her hands reached up instinctively only to hit against cold, hard glass. A smaller, cooler object dangled precariously from her fingers as she strained her eyes to focus on the glinting object. Once the pendant had become a sharp image in her mind, she felt a wave of emptiness overwhelm her petite form. Her hands shrank back from the glass, and she almost did not want to move.

She let her eyes flutter close, and willed herself to pretend that she had not woken up quite just yet. Or that maybe when she did wake up, her hero would be there to clasp her hands in his bigger, stronger ones and he would once again fill her with that warm, soul-touching love that only he could ever make her feel. She willed and willed, but felt no hands.

"It is time to wake up, milady."

A familiar, warm voice washed over her and she reluctantly let her large, brown eyes flutter open. Glass no longer encased her, and she let one hand reach tentatively above her. She felt a larger hand grasp hers and help her sit up in her cushioned casket, the petals of beautiful flowers still fresh looking and dewy, falling from her long, brown locks as she shifted. Her eyes focused on the form of a friend, and she was forced to smile a sad smile.

"It worked, then?"

A short nod she received, and then a helpful hand which aided her idle feet as she stepped down from the raised platform that her casket had been placed upon. She let a hand run along the cold, white marble block that her casket would forever sit on. It was beautiful.

"You are dead to all the world."

She turned to her old friend again, and met his leveled gaze. His eyes held sorrow, deep regrets and pain. She then noticed the two bundles near his feet, and he followed her gaze and jumped slightly, embarrassed that he had almost forgotten.

"Oh, of course," he bent down and took the two bundles in his arms, raising them towards her.

Two curious, innocent faces stared up at her, blinking rapidly, confused and lost. She smiled again, this time from sheer joy, as she let her fingers brush against the cheeks of her darlings, her babies.

"Luke," she whispered, and placed a soft kiss on the baby boy's face.

She pushed aside the blanket shielding the other baby's cheeks, and also planted her token of affection on the baby girl. "Leia," she breathed, her breath causing the little girl to kick gently.

"Are you sure this is the way you want it—"

"Yes," she answered before he could finish. She now held almost a cold cruelty in her eyes as she turned to stare upwards at the glass windows that surrounded them. Her form was regal, an echo of a former queen, and her eyes full of wisdom far beyond her age. She turned to her friend once again and followed him down the twenty steps that led up to her casket.

"Leia to Alderaan, Luke to Tatooine," she recited without a stutter.

"Yes, it has all been arranged."

"Good," she gave a bow of her head, showing her deep gratification towards the Jedi before her. "Only apart will we have a chance of ever surviving in this newfound empire."

"Only apart…will there ever be hope."