A/N: So again, thanks to QueenofaSwan and Cassi for reviewing/beta-ing~! I hope everyone likes this chapter, because we're gonna get to see a little more of Darth Vader come out finally! And without further ado, on with the story!
Anakin nudged Regina gently. He'd sat for the last 12 hours just watching her, she looked so peaceful when she slept, not anything like him. She stayed motionless and her face lost some sort of hardness to it. He rarely slept anymore, his dreams were nothing but pain and misery and when he awoke he felt like he'd run a marathon in his sleep; exhausted, body completely sore and tense.
"Mmm, are we here?" Regina asked, rousing from her sleep quietly. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. He tried to smile back, but he knew she saw through it. She was very perceptive that way, he thought. He'd managed to talk the Emperor out of an immediate wedding yesterday, but he knew that his Master wouldn't wait for long... and he had no idea how to explain it to her.
"Yes, we've arrived over Coruscant. Would you like to see it?" He asked.
"Yes, of course," She said grinning, thoroughly excited by all of the new things she'd never even dreamed of. She rolled out of his bed enthusiastically bounding over to the viewport.
"Oh my god," she gasped as she looked at the brightly lit city beneath them. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
"Coruscant, the entire planet is one big city," he said finding himself smiling genuinely now at her awestruck expression.
"How do we get down there? The same way we left the Enchanted Forest?" She asked uneasily, afraid of the answer she'd get.
"No, no... Some of my men brought us a shuttle to take us to the ground," he said, chuckling at her aversion to fighters.
"Oh, good," she said breathing a sigh of relief. "You're flying made me completely nauseous!"
He laughed, taking her hand and tugging her into the common area. "I uh- I had them bring this from my apartment. I didn't imagine you'd enjoy traipsing around the city in your current attire," he said indicating the dress that hung on a rack along the wall.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, touching the red fabric gently. "I didn't picture you as a red dress kind of guy, but I'll admit you have excellent taste," she teased.
His face dropped slightly, not quite sure how to explain.
"It... It was my wife's," He said sadly.
"You had a wife?" Regina asked, her curly brown hair whipping over her shoulder as she turned back to face him.
"I did... Ummm she- she died, some time ago," he said shaking his head, not looking her in the eye. "I uh, it should fit you, but it will be a little large around the middle. When she died, I returned her other belongings to her sisters, but I kept a few things... special things. She was p-pregnant," he choked out, focusing intently on his boots.
Regina's face fell. So this was why he looked so defeated at certain times. Probably why he didn't sleep anymore either, she thought.
"I'm really sorry Anakin, I didn't know." She whispered, feeling ashamed now for teasing him.
"It's okay," he said, forcing a weak smile. "Come, let's get you changed we have a long day ahead of us," he said taking the dress down and handing it to her.
She nodded, squeezing his arm gently in apology for her flippant remark. She felt swells of sadness and pain around her, knowing that it was his made her feel even sadder...
Within the hour they were landing on the platform, Regina felt a feeling of relief flood over her as her newly shoe'd feet touched solid ground once more.
"That was much better," she gushed, so relieved when she'd learned he wouldn't be flying them, and even more relieved when she hadn't barfed again. She attached the spare lightsaber he was loaning her to her waist distractedly.
"Oh come on, my flying is superb!" He protested, his mood much lighter now.
"Well I haven't had as much experience as you, but I'm absolutely sure a sheep dog could fly better than you," she retorted, giving him an eye roll and tossing her hair.
"Oh really?" He asked raising an eyebrow. "Well we'll see how you do your first time, before we start grading me okay?"
"Oh no... I'm not flying. Ever. I would crash in a heartbeat. I'll stick to horseback riding!" She said putting a hand in his face, telling him no way.
"Nope, you're learning. Everyone has to at some point, Regina. It's a vital skill you'll need in this world," Anakin stated firmly, silencing her protest with a stern look. "Also, don't be alarmed if anyone refers to you as Lady Vader, just think of it as your official title for now, okay?" He asked her, gauging her reaction closely. She didn't even flinch before nodding excitedly.
"Well aren't you just a girl on fire?" He asked at her animated facial expressions and all around eagerness. She just flipped him off in response, sticking her tongue out childishly.
"Alright Skywalker, show me this fabulous world of yours then," she said rolling her eyes. He offered her an arm which she took happily.
"Alright, what kind of clothes do you like?" He asked her as they got into the open cockpit speeder waiting for them. "It will help me know which district of the textile sector to go to," he said at her confused look.
"Well, in my world women wear mostly dresses, unless you're going riding," she said pausing. "But I rather prefer pants to dresses anyways. If I'm going to be training with you I'll need clothing less restrictive, comfortable, you know?" she said looking at him as he nodded and started up the speeder.
"Wow, this place is incredible!" She said looking around as they zipped through the busy lanes of air traffic. "The buildings are so big!" She cried as she craned her neck looking at the tops of skyscrapers they flitted by.
A short while later they were pulling up alongside a massively large building, where lots of people milled around on the sidewalks, mostly women. Regina had to work to keep her jaw tightly shut as she took in all the different species of people.
"I never knew that there was a land outside of mine, until a short while ago. Now I'm here and I can't believe all of this!" She said excitedly as he helped her climb out of the speeder onto the concrete walkway.
"It gets pretty old, pretty fast," he said lazily.
"Speak for yourself," she scoffed, eyes widened as they approached the entrance that was lit up with dozens of neon signs and lights.
After what seemed like forever to Anakin, they emerged holding twenty different bags. He'd hated shopping for as long as he could remember, but when he'd been a Jedi self indulgence was frowned upon as was possession, so shopping was always somewhat of a pipe dream. But he was actually enjoying himself, for the first time in a very long time. He enjoyed Regina's company, explaining all of the magical things that civilized life had to offer her.
After hitting several boutiques Anakin was starving and his energy was starting to wane.
"Are you hungry? We can stop and get a bite to eat before we hit the last floor," he asked Regina who was positively glowing with happiness and excitement.
"Uh huh, I'm actually starving to be honest. The last time I ate was at my wedding dinner," she finished somewhat sourly.
"Well in that case," he said pulling her into a small restaurant he'd been to once before. They approached the hostess droid, who held up a 3 fingered metal hand.
"How many?" Its robotic voice asked dryly.
"Two." Anakin replied. The droid looked at his face before pausing and asking them to please wait a moment.
"Anakin? I have this weird feeling... Why is everybody looking at us?" Regina said looking around at the people who sat at their tables staring at them and whispering.
"Just ignore them, it's the first time I've really been back here since the rise of the Empire," Anakin said stiffly. "Some people aren't adjusting well to the change," he said quietly, becoming agitated as people stared at him, then when he caught them, looking away in fear.
Finally the droid returned with a Rhodian woman carrying a small child, followed by what looked like her sister.
"Teesa no!" The second girl whispered anxiously.
"Are you Lord Vader?" The first Rhodian asked sharply.
"Yes." Anakin said, feeling his body tense up.
"Well you can leave; we do not serve Jedi killers in this establishment." Teesa said angrily.
Anakin froze, he'd spoken to Regina briefly about the change of power in the galaxy, but he'd left out some pretty significant parts, including his role in it. He could feel Regina grow anxious, her grip on his arm growing tighter.
"You are not welcome here, Lord Vader. Please take your business elsewhere!" The woman continued angrily as the child on her hip started to whine.
"I think you may want to re-think that," Anakin said calmly. He didn't want to do this in front of Regina but if the Emperor found out that he'd ignored an outright Rebel, he would seriously regret it later on...
"Never! You and your "stormtroopers" marched into the Jedi Temple and slaughtered my little brother Aro!" She yelled. Her sister placed a calming hand on her shoulder, still quietly begging her to stop talking.
"The Jedi turned against the Republic; they were a danger to everyone," Anakin said firmly, still trying to remain unaggressive.
"That's a lie! Your Emperor fooled us all! And he ordered the execution of innocent Jedi everywhere which you carried out! I will not allow my restaurant to be filled with scum like you, and your new prostitute. How dare you smear Senator Amidala's memory like that!" She sneered.
At this Anakin snapped, lightsaber instantly in hand, causing Regina to jump slightly as the red humming blade cut the air in front of them. She immediately worried for the child in the woman's arms who started outright screeching now.
"Put the child down." Anakin growled. "Now." He emphasized, feeling Regina's concern telepathically.
"No." Teesa said defiantly as her sister cowered behind her, and the restaurant patrons sat frozen in fear, not looking up from their food.
"Then you both die," Anakin said in the tense silence.
"Anakin, NO!"
"REGINA! SILENCE!" He roared at her with a death glare. She flinched at the sheer volume of his voice, but stood defiantly glaring back at him. Silently warning him she was not afraid of him.
He turned back to Teesa and her baby and with an evil grin he twirled his lightsaber and Regina poised herself ready to stop him from killing an innocent child if necessary, not worried about his rage.
"Do it! Prove you're just as much of a monster as you were the night my brother died!" Teesa screeched, ignoring her sister's pleas to be silent.
Anakin raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Look at all the fucks I don't give about what you think," before slashing his weapon down, only to be met by another red blade beneath his, blocking his lethal blow.
He looked over to see Regina defiantly shaking her head at him.
What the FUCK are you doing!? He sent an enraged thought through the Force, eyes boring into her unwavering brown ones.
The child is INNOCENT! She screamed mentally. How can you do that?!
I warned her! Rebels will be dealt with Regina, the sooner you learn that the better off you'll be. He thought in a deadly tone. Now move. Your. Blade. Don't make me move you forcibly.
"No," She said through gritted teeth.
Anakin bore down on his blade, but she was strong for a queen. She held steady. Finally he looked over to the woman cowering in front of their clashing lightsabers, uselessly attempting to shield her child. Anakin groaned in frustration before ripping the small child from his mother's arms with the Force into the shaking hands of Teesa's sister. Regina, satisfied the child would not be harmed, relaxed, shutting off her blade and allowing Anakin's to decapitate the Rebel woman.
She stood up straight, breathing heavily, sweat glistening on her forehead. She'd been surprised at her own strength, but her father had always told her, physical strength was always outdone by a stronger will. Anakin looked murderous she thought nervously, as she watched him shut off his blade.
"With the power vested in me by the Galactic Empire, I deem you the new owner of this establishment. Let this serve as a warning to all who dare to rebel. Insurrection will not be tolerated." He said, glaring at Teesa's sister who was positively shaking with fear, nodding fervently as she rocked the crying child.
He turned on his heel storming out of the restaurant without another word. Regina paused, unsure as to follow him or give him a moment to cool off, but jumped as she heard her name barked from outside.
She hurried out onto the crowded path looking around for him, when a vice grip on her elbow yanked her into an alley next to the restaurant. She attempted to scream as she felt her back thud against the concrete wall, but no sound came out.
"Anakin! I'm sorr-" She croaked, the wind knocked out of her chest made it difficult to speak.
"Regina! What are you thinking?!" Anakin hissed visibly upset.
"I-The child, I- You were going to kill an innocent child!" She said indignantly.
"Regina, you must promise me you will never interfere like that!" He said in a hushed voice as to not alert passerby.
"I couldn't just stand there! Get off of me!" She spat at him, struggling against his chest as his arms were positioned on each side of her, holding her back against the wall.
"Regina, I- I know it's hard. I know you think I'm a monster, but if I hadn't taken action the Emperor would have found out, I would be in serious trouble... and you? If he finds out you're interfering on behalf of the Rebels you will be executed for crimes against the Empire, do you understand?" He growled in her ear. Regina stopped pushing against him, fully understanding the gravity of what she'd just done.
She looked at his face, and was surprised to see not anger, but pain and worry. He didn't want her to die...
"I've lost everyone I've ever cared about in my life Regina, don't do anything stupid! Promise me!" He said urgently, the pain seeping into his voice now. "Promise me you will never do anything like that again, please?" He asked, putting a gentle hand on the side of her cheek.
Regina was shocked at his touch; it was so gentle, so kind. Something she hadn't felt since Daniel had touched her... She looked into his eyes and nodded.
"O-Ookay I promise," she stammered. He sighed and leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach and she felt her heartbeat in her eardrums.
Anakin sighed again more quietly, visibly relaxing and releasing her from her pinned position against the wall. He rubbed his temples wearily. He was beyond exhausted, almost on the verge of collapse, she could tell.
"I think we've had enough excitement for one day," she said gently, taking his hand in hers. He nodded in agreement and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Let's go home Reg," he said leading them hand in hand back onto the street.
She smiled at his use of her nickname her childhood best friend used to call her. He smiled in return, a genuine smile.
"So other than the last part, how'd you enjoy your first day on Coruscant?" He asked her as they walked back to the guarded speeder where stormtroopers stood surrounding the mountain of purchases they'd acquired.
"Well all in all, I can honestly say a day with you is never boring," She replied dryly. "And I think I now have more clothing than all the women in my entire town back home," she said, pursing her lips in amusement as he surveyed the accumulation of bags and boxes.
He just smirked, before hollering to the group of stormtroopers awaiting his instructions, "Alright men lets load 'em up! Regina's got a date with her closet and we wouldn't want to make her late," he said jokingly.
Regina laughed as the stormtroopers immediately sprung into action barking "Yes Lord Vader!" as they started loading all of their packages onto the speeder, as her and Anakin climbed inside.