Timeline: Starting a year after the Clone Wars all the way up to the end of Revenge of the Sith. Since the fanfic is completely AU and only acknowledges certain events that is canon. Just to name a few:

- Anakin and Padmé are the same age (27).

- Anakin and Padmé first met each other during the Clone Wars. Prior to it, they have no history.

- Palpatine is Padmé's uncle.

- Ahsoka is still alive but is no longer Anakin's Padawan; instead she has been promoted to Jedi Knight.

- Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka never met or fought the Son, so Anakin never got to get a glimpse of the future.

Pairing: Dark!Padme & Vader!Anakin - Their relationship will form slowly, so don't expect things to heat up very fast. Although, there will be some intense moments here and there.

Part One: The Age of Decadence

Chapter 1: Masks

Palpatine's office reminded him of the General's Quarters on Invisible Hand. And it struck him as unaccountably sinister that the robes worn by the Chancellor's cadre of bodyguards were the exact color of Palpatine's carpet. Palpatine himself stood at the view wall, hands clasped behind him, gazing out upon the smoke-hazed morning.

"Anakin." He must have seen Anakin's reflection in the curve of transparisteel; he had not moved. "Join me."

Anakin came up beside him, mirroring his stance. Endless cityscape stretched away before them. Here and there, the remains of shattered buildings still smoldered. Space lane traffic was beginning to return to normal, and rivers of gnat-like speeders and air taxis and repulsor buses crisscrossed the city. In the near distance, the vast dome of the Galactic Senate squatted like a gigantic gray mushroom sprung from the duracrete plain that was Republic Plaza. Farther, dim in the brown haze, he could pick out the quintuple spires that topped the ziggurat of the Jedi Temple.

"Do you see, Anakin?" Palpatine's voice was soft, hoarse with emotion. "Do you see what they have done to our magnificent city? This war must end. We cannot allow such... such..."

His voice trailed away, and he shook his head. Gently, Anakin laid a hand on Palpatine's shoulder, and a hint of frown fleeted over his face at how frail seemed the flesh and bone beneath the robe.

"You know you have my best efforts, and those of every Jedi," he said. Palpatine nodded, lowering his head. "I know I have yours, Anakin. The rest of the Jedi..." He sighed. He looked even more exhausted than he had yesterday. Perhaps he had passed a sleepless night as well.

"I'm sure would have left me to perish at the hands of Count Dooku, if it weren't for you and Obi-Wan," he said slowly, "they do not trust me as much as I would hope for them to."

Anakin went still for a moment, then he very slowly lifted his hand from the Chancellor's shoulder. He knew of the Council's slight distrust of the Chancellor. They made it known to him that they all thought Palpatine's way of leadership was a kin to a left-wing extremist. Despite the many good things he has brought to the Republic. Be wary of Palpatine."They just don't see the great leader that I see."

"Thank you, my boy." A flash of his familiar fatherly smile forced its way into his eyes. "Anakin, you are a great friend."

"I try to be, Sir."

"Anakin. Have I ever asked you to do anything that was even remotely against your conscience?"

"No Sir."

"And I never will. I am very proud of your accomplishments as a Jedi, Anakin. You have won many battles the Jedi Council insisted to me were already lost—and yet you saved my life. It's frankly appalling that they still keep you off the Council itself."

"My time will come...when I am older. And, I suppose, wiser." He didn't want to get into this with Palpatine; talking with the Chancellor like this—seriously, man-to-man—made him feel good, feel strong, despite Obi-Wan's previous warnings about him. He certainly didn't want to start whining about being passed over for Mastery like some preadolescent Padawan who hadn't been chosen for a scramball team.

"Nonsense. Age is no measure of wisdom."

"The Council still thinks of me as that child they brought in from Tatooine."

"Anakin I—" Palpatine began but was interrupted by the flashlight of his holocomm. He answered it, receiving a message from his secretary that Senator Padmé Amidala would be arriving shortly for a meeting. Unbeknownst to Anakin, the Chancellor took notice of the Jedi Knight's change in expression at the mention of the former queen of Naboo. There was a tint to his cheeks, his face partially flushed.

After speaking to his secretary and turning off the holocomm, Palpatine turned to Anakin and raised a brow at him. "Senator Amidala is coming to speak about the fumbling economy of Naboo. To think that woman would be smart enough to take a vacation or at least a break after the hostage crisis. And yet, she's still back in office working."

"She's a determined worker, Chancellor."

"Yes, she is. And a fine one at that. But it seems she doesn't know the concept of being temporarily out of office."

"Senator Amidala just wants the best for her people. Compassionate and hard working 'till the end.

"Clearly. Although, I'll have to see if she will be free to accompany me to the festival at the Theed Royal Palace." The old man wondered, thoughtfully rubbing his chin.

"Festival at the Theed Royal Palace of Naboo?" Anakin asked, surprised by the information.

"Yes! Queen Jamillia plans on it be an extravagant event, celebrating the end of the Clone Wars and the return of peace." Palpatine explained. "You should attend."

"Oh no, Chancellor, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to attend when there is so much work to be done. There are still parts of the galaxy that need help being restored."

With understanding, Palpatine smiled, "I see. Well if you'll excuse me, I don't want to keep the Senator waiting."

"Of course," Anakin replied, heading towards the door with Palpatine leading him out.

"It was great to see you again, my boy."

"Likewise."

With Anakin gone, Palpatine's soft spoken voice changed drastically. He stood in front of the large panned windows, marveling at the cityscape. The door to his office opened with a hiss and he heard the familiar sound of heels clicking against the linoleum. Standing upright beside him, Senator Padme Amidala mirrored his stance. He was the first to speak.

"How many have been bribed?"

"Not nearly as many as previously thought. One would think that as dirty a practice politics are, their enforcers would be just as filthy."

"Patience, Padme." He said sagely, sensing the Senator's restlessness. "All good things come to those who wait with patience and a focused mind."

Padme chuckled, "Taking a page right out of the Jedi handbook Uncle? Maybe your seat as Supreme Chancellor has made you soft, and dare I say, democratic?"

Palpatine shook his head very slowly. "Make light of the situation if you want, Senator. We still have work that needs to be done in regards to the Empire."

"Of course." Padme frowned. "What about Dooku and Grievous? I have yet to hear anything from them."

"They are laying low for the time being, though you must not concern yourself with them," said Palpatine. "Instead focus at mission at hand."

"Yes, Chancellor."