Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the great reviews, favorites, and follows. I didn't know what to expect, but certainly not all this.

I wasn't planning to release another chapter until later, but since I've had such great feedback I decided I didn't want to wait.

Time to meet the potential new Grand Vizier.

Chapter Two

A Proposal or an Order?

Whenever Darth Vader had to drop by the Senate, he never bothered to stop at the front desks. Whenever possible, he always stalked into their offices unannounced. That was how preferred to catch his prey.

"Hey!" Said the young dark haired humanoid. "You can't... just..." The desk secretary's mouth dropped as a pair of thundering boots and the sound of an iconic respirator stalked past the front desk. Not only did the secretary's voice suddenly vanish, but so did the secretary altogether. Along with any guards the Senator should have been lurking nearby.

And this trip to the Senate...this was personal. After all, Vader would be spending quality time with this bureaucrat. Though he failed to see what purpose behind such a thing. Couldn't they just carry on their married lives separately? And if that wasn't bad enough, he had to share his name and title of Vader. He even had to share his power with this woman.

Share...Vader's blood began to boil. He never knew he could despise one small word so much. Steal was the more appropriate word. He was starting to think he despised this word even more than the word, Jedi. At least with them he could cut them down with his lightsaber.

Vader opened the door. He found she was already standing up. In front of her Nubian oak desk.

Pity.

Vader had hoped she would be behind her Nubian oak desk. The bureaucrats and representatives always seemed much more weak and vulnerable that way. As if they had been caught in the act.

While Padmé Amidala may not have been Queen anymore, she still looked rather regal. Really, she looked the same. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Yet she was...different than how Vader remembered her. Really young Anakin remembered her. While of course she would be different. Beings were always changing. It was part of life. Also, he hadn't seen her in over thirteen years.

But still, there was something very different about her.

"Senator Amidala," While Darth Vader's voice may have been synthetic, it clearly met business. "A moment of your time," and he clearly met now.

Despite the clear message in his tone, Padmé Amidala did not bat an eyelash. "I'm afraid I have none, Lord Vader." Padmé sighed. She did not have time for Vader. She was trying to remember to breathe and that it would be alright- some personal problems on her homeworld of Naboo. But for now she had an important meeting to attend. "Please comm my secretary and I'll get back to you." Or preferably never, she slightly hoped.

The Senator did not even turn to bow or even to simply acknowledge at him. Too busy reading some report from what appeared to be her homeworld of Naboo.

Vader simmering yellow eyes narrowed as he watched the tiny woman. How dare she ignore him! It was just infuriating! He held up his black gloved hand to SLAM the door shut. Now he had her attention.

Padmé got the message. She turned to face him with a polite, courteous look, "What can I do for you, Lord Vader?" While Padmé was not afraid of Vader or dying, she did however discreetly slide her fingers into her robe pocket. Ready to hit the emergency button- to summon the guards- just in case.

Vader paused for a moment. Wondering how to start. Vader had never been much for games or wasting time, so he decided to get to the point, "Marry me," He said. It sounded like an order.

Padmé did not know what to say. Other than her widened brown eyes she held up her political mask. Though she could think of a few choice reactions. From the words, "Excuse me?" To laughing hysterically. To fleeing for her life. Padmé sensed the second and third option were not optional. Especially with the closed door and from everything she had seen about Vader he had no sense of humor. Padmé knew could summon her guards, but she wanted to find out what was going on here. So Padmé started with the first, "Excuse me?" She finally decided to say.

Perhaps Vader truly did have some twisted sense of humor on top of his twisted self. Perhaps this truly was some elaborate joke. And there was a secret camera recording her in the office and it would be on one of those late night holo talk shows. Though again she never knew Vader to be one for jokes. Perhaps this went back to Palpatine...

One of his games...

"Upon the death of Sate Pestage, legally I am now the Grand Vizier," Vader stated.

First off, Padmé failed to see what this had to do with anything. More importantly, her. Two, her mind was now all over the place.

Vader was...

Him?

Padmé suddenly found it hard to swallow. A moment later she was able to open her mouth again. "...congratulations," Padmé cautiously replied. While she normally tried not to worry about the future, she suddenly found herself dwelling about it. At least with Sate Pestage, she and the rest of the Senate knew what to expect. He was manipulative and utterly loyal to Palpatine, but at least had principles. Not kill beings for simply disagreeing with him. Well, Pestage probably hired assassins to deal with anyone he wished out of his way. Still at least he didn't do it then and there and right in front of everyone. Padmé did not see how Vader running the Senate would work. Nor would anything good come from it. Nothing except more killing. Half the Senate would be dead in a month. Also, the Sith Lord had never displayed any political skills. Maybe they could use that to their advantage...her advantage. Then again, she sensed such plan would ultimately backfire. Again, with she and the rest of the Senate's bodies would ultimately end up sprawled over the Senate carpet.

Padmé also failed to see what any of this had to do with her. Why Vader was telling her this? Or ordering her to marry him? Padmé did not know. She had a feeling she didn't want to know. But Padmé knew one thing, she had to get away from Vader.

She quickly and discreetly pressed the emergency button, the guards should burst into room any second now.

She waited...the door never bursted open.

Well, if they weren't coming, she decided she had one option left.

Flee!

Now.

Well, she tried.

Padmé too a half step when, "Senator," Vader's respirator growled. His gloved hand curled around her upper arm.

Tightly.

Forget fleeing. Padmé should have gone for one of his lightsabers. Why did the Senate no longer allow weapons- excluding the guards- on the premises? Yes, Padmé knew why, but she was still incredibly frustrated. "Release me," Padmé said through her teeth. While she was afraid, she dared not show it. Where was her kriffing security!? Captain Typo and his men? This was the worst day to give her handmaiden the day off!

I am speaking to you," Vader snapped.

"Then at least loosen your grip," The Senator did not break eye contact. "You're hurting me," She said through clenched teeth.

Slowly, Vader released her.

"You will marry me," Vader told her. Again, it sounded like an order. Though everything he said probably sounded like an order.

Padmé blatantly asked, "Why?" The idea was completely absurd and ludicrous. The fear lodged in the back of her throat was the only reason Padmé didn't begin to laugh hysterically. A Sith marry? That was an oxymoron. Besides Vader did nothing without his Master's approval. "Besides, won't your Master disapprove?" Padmé said with a sly smile.

Vader did not like the way she said Master. It felt like she was mocking him.

Padmé didn't stop there. "Wouldn't he be...displeased by such a union?" Or any union for that matter. From what little Padmé found on her research of Sith history, the Sith of the Bane line did not marry. And again Vader never did anything without his Master's approval...right?

"Why would he?" Vader said. "It was his idea." Vader suddenly felt rather weak. Suddenly wishing he had not mentioned that detail.

The Senator paled. Her mask had finally come off. Something Vader found rather fascinating. He was finally seeing Padmé not Amidala. Young and innocent Anakin may have once known the simple, naive handmaiden, yet true Queen. But Darth Vader had never met her.

Padmé blinked several times. Slowly, the petite woman walked over to the nearest chair and collapsed into it. "I see," So her earlier conclusion had been correct. This was Palpatine. One of his games. "And...if I refuse?" What would happen then? Was this an order? A test? What was this? Padmé knew she needed to get as many of the facts as possible.

"Then," Vader assumed. "I continue searching for a consort elsewhere." Palpatine did not say this particular Senator had to marry him. Though she was clearly his Master's one and only choice. And while Vader would admit it, his one and only as well.

"Consort?" That sounded rather strange. Padmé expected to hear the terms wife or spouse. Why consort? What was this exactly?

"Upon Pestage's death, I am next in line for his position." Vader sounded thrilled by the prospect. "However, since I am no politician nor do I really care for the species, I am looking for a consort. One who will share and run the rank, its position and all its responsibilities." With the Emperor's guidance of course. He locked eyes with her. "Do you understand?" Vader asked.

Padmé paused. The pieces were beginning to fall into place. It was making sense. Still, she was cautious. "Is this all some elaborate way for Palpatine to control or be rid of me?" Padmé crossed her arms. "So I can end up just like the late Pestage?"

The Sith Lord did not understand why the Senator was so wary of Palpatine. She was just one Senator. Not an apprentice, a Hand, or any sort of pawn...or was she? Vader filed that tidbit away for another time. "Not that I am aware of," Vader answered truthfully. "Besides running the Senate works far better when one is alive," He pointed out. Though he didn't see why. The Senate was a joke. Palpatine was Emperor. The Senate only remained to keep the systems in line and happy...for now.

Her sudden sinister smile reminded Vader of...Palpatine? Vader found it curious and if he knew fear, he may have found it disturbing.

Vader also sensed her growing confliction. So she was tempted by the offer? Perhaps it wasn't a total waste of time in asking her after all.

"Thank you for your...generous offer, Lord Vader," She suddenly felt like she was Queen of Naboo again. Turning down some of the generous proposals. From goods and trades to actual marriage proposals. Letting her suitors and interested parties down gently. "But I'm afraid I have to refuse." She bowed graciously. Hoping such a gesture would allow her to escape. Though she sensed this was hardly over. Still she, began to make direct line for the door.

Was he really going to let her go? Probably not. Still, she sensed there was more to this.

And she was right.

Vader wasn't done just yet. "Senator, the extent of my power and my," Vader paused. How should he put this? "Benefits would fall under your family on Naboo too." While Vader wasn't actually sure about this one. But this was how Sidious explained it. "Including legal immunity." Meaning her father would be released from prison.

Padmé stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart was racing. Immunity? Her father would be free. And safe from Imperial clutches.

Weeks ago, her father had been arrested for protesting some of the latest "security" measures. Which was a complete and utter lie. He had been trying to walk from the university to back home and had gotten arrested. Padmé, despite being a well-known former Queen and influential Senator had been arguing for his release for weeks and still no progress.

Vader could practically hear the Senator's heart beating in her chest. He was again reminded how attachments were weakness. Thank the Dark Side, the Sith knew better.

Now she knew why.

Even still her father must be released. If rumors about the conditions of the Imperial prisons were true...it made the prison camps of the Trade Federation look like paradise.

And think of all she could accomplish in such a position...

This- this was the very oppor-

Padmé held that thought...she knew this was a trap. Of course it was trap. "I..." Padmé found herself struggling to breathe. Still, she supposed she should think on it. "I need to think on this," While she could be impulsive and run head long into things. Giving little thought to her own personal safety. But this time, it wasn't just her safety on the line. It was her father's. She did not would not rush into anything.

Not the answer he was looking for. Of course, the proposal had been a shock to him as well. "I am not a patient man Senator," He turned to leave the office. "I will expect an answer by tonight."

I know, I know, I'm slightly copying off Beauty and the Beast. Though in my defense, most Vadmé stories tend to have a Beauty and the Beast vibe.

As one can see, not only will Vader be different, but Padmé is also going to be a different character.

Review please!