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Vader honestly didn't know what he was thinking when he let Buffy drag him in empty, former Jedi Temple.

But she was curious about the half-burnt building.

Why didn't Palpatine tear this building down? Or rebuild it into something else?

It's only been…like 5 years.

'Great', he thought crossly. 'Now I'm sounding like Buffy. This is all her fault.'

But why did he allow it in the first place? He could drive them some where else…it was a big planet after all.

What was he thinking?

Was he thinking?

Or was he trying to prove something… Oh yes that was it; he wanted to prove that he didn't care. And he didn't; he really didn't.

***

Buffy was wandering through the deserted corridors giving her attention briefly to the blaster burns on the walls. But she didn't comment on them. Didn't asked what happened….yet.
He knew that it was only a matter of time.

He was very tempted to tell her all of it… But some things were better left alone.
He had lived in this temple since he was nine years old. Never in his memory was it so quiet in here. Especially on the night when Palpatine was nearly killed by the Jedi. And when he became his apprentice.

He hadn't set foot in this building since then.

"You OK?" he turned his head at the sound of her voice, to see Buffy watching him. She tilted her head to the side, "You kind of spaced out for a while there."

"I used to live here."

"Used to?"

He nodded."Since I was nine. I...ah, used to live on Tatooine. It's a desert planet; poor with sand that pretty much gets everywhere. My mother and I lived together; I never had a father. I worked in Watto's junk shop when some strangers came in, looking for replacement parts. One of them was a Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn. He took me with him."

"What about your mother?"

"She couldn't come with us. But I had every intention of coming back, when I'd be in position to help her."

Buffy shifted slightly, watching him intently. He couldn't tell what she thought since her face closed off completely. And he could not read her, though he did sense a slight resentment coming from her. But before he could find out why, it was gone.

"Go on."

"Qui-Gon presented me before the Jedi council."

Taking a deep breath Vader leaned on the wall, closing his eyes. The memory of the council's refusal was still vivid in his mind. It still had the power to hurt him.

Thus, he missed Buffy's scowl when the council was mentioned. But she kept quiet, waiting for Vader to tell her what had happened. Oh, she had no illusions that she would find out ALL of it. But … she wouldn't stop Vader if he wanted to share.

"They decided against my training. Qui –Gon said than he himself would train me. But he already had an apprentice. So…anyway there was an invasion on Naboo and the Council decided that I should accompany Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to Naboo. They were charged with protecting Queen Amidala., who'd decided to fight the invading forces. Qui-Gon was forbidden to teach me. But…he said that I should watch him closely…and I could learn some things just by watching."

Buffy smiled. "I like this guy. So … what happened to him?"

"He died."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I. Anyways, after Naboo was freed, the council decided that I should be trained. Even if Master Yoda was against it. And so I became an apprentice to Obi-Wan."

"Did you make some friends here? What happened with…?"

"No, I … there were no friends… And attachments of any kind were forbidden. All I had was Obi-Wan."

"What can Jedi do…? Or what can you do? I already know you can move things and do that choking thing. But what else?"

"There is a mind trick; that works on the weak minded. Some force wielders can heal almost any wound. We can also accelerate our speed, have the ability to look in the past and future and some other things."

"What happened to your mother?"

"She… Ten years passed when I saw her again. Before I went there I started to have dreams…nightmares …. She was in pain, dying. I had them for months. I told Obi-wan about it. But he said that I should concentrate on my duty and that all dreams pass in time…I was sent to safeguard Padme… But after one of… I decided to go see her… She wasn't a slave anymore … She got married to a good man…. But when I got there I found out that…"

Vader took deep breath and….

"… She was kidnapped by Tusken Raiders …I found her and she died; she was tortured to death."

Vader was stunned when two small arms wrapped around his waist in a warm hug.
"I know that sorry doesn't cut it. But I'm sorry for your loss… Did you get who ever did it?"

"I killed them all."

Buffy nodded expecting this answer. "Good; at least they won't torture anybody else."

Vader stared to say something when a beeping noise cut through the silence. Buffy stepped away and Vader pulled a comm out of his belt.

"Yes."

"Lord Vader, the Emperor has requested your presence."

***

After Vader dropped Buffy off, she went to her room deep in thought. She absently changed clothes and sat down, thinking over information she found out.

And came to a conclusion….The Watchers Council and the Jedi Council were long, lost twins.

No attachment … What a load of… They took kids from their parents, to live empty lives and the kids didn't even know what they were missing… And they took Vader from his mother, and when he has a premonition dream thingy they say 'forget about her'?

And on top of it all for ten years they let her be a slave…. Yep definitely Watcher's council's lost twin.

Suddenly Buffy stiffened and then whirled around to grab a small hand. Taking a good look at her catch she relaxed. It was a small child. A girl, with big dark blue eyes and curly red hair.

"Who are you?" Buffy asked with a no-nonsense voice that was usually reserved for Dawn.

"I'm Mara Jade. Who are you?" Mara said blinking innocently at Buffy. But Buffy, having plenty of Dawn experience, just frowned.

Sighing, Mara squirmed a little, trying to throw Buffy off (which didn't work).

So she pouted.

"The Emperor mentioned you and I wanted to meet you."

"Ahh and you decided to play something here… Well next time you try to sneak up on someone, don't breath so loud."

TBC