Vader took the steps down into the interrogation chamber, in several long strides. His cape caressing each step as he descended. With a slight tilt of his helmet, he sent the two Stormtroopers guarding the door away. His silent command was obeyed in an instant, and he entered the room.

It was quiet. Its only other occupant, a large dark haired man, lying lifeless on a metal slab in front of him. At Vader's approach, he opened his blood shot eyes, blinking in confusion. They were glassy and unfocused. Seemingly staring at some point past Vader's left shoulder, doubtfully even aware of his presence. Undeterred Vader moved closer, turning on the holo projector he had clasped within his gloved hand.

The image that flickered into life, drew Vader's gaze for a moment. It was Padme, dressed in one of her senatorial gowns, a serious expression on her face. He remembered she had often looked like that when in an official capacity. Vader's hand twitched around the holo projector, when she suddenly smiled. It was the same kind of smile she had used to give him when they were alone. In those moments, they had not needed to hide what they felt. Feeling uncomfortable he looked away. He had kept this holo, though he had never looked at it. He had barely even allowed himself to think her name. Now it seemed, he could not manage to stop thinking it. To stop thinking of her.

"Do you know this woman," he asked, pushing the holo image toward the man's face. The only response he received, was an incoherent mumble.

Vader scowled. It had been weeks, since he had first captured and interrogated the prisoner. Then the prisoner had been strong. Defiant. Resisting Vader as best he could, though it had been pointless. Now he was a broken shell of a man, and it seemed someone had continued interrogating him in Vader's absence. One of the inquisitors no doubt, arrogant enough to think they could achieve more than him, the fools. Or perhaps it had been for practice. In the end, it mattered little to him, but now it was turning out to be rather unfortunate. The prisoner was no good to him broken.

"Answer, "Vader commanded, moving the holo image closer. With his other hand, he tilted the metal slab up into a vertical position, so he could look the man in the eyes. There was a glimpse of sanity still lurking within them. However, Vader knew, if he pushed to hard his mind might fracture completely, and he had long since learned the value of patience.

Blinking again, the prisoner finally looked at Padme's image. She was still smiling. Back then, her dark eyes had been alight with joy. Not like they were now, constantly weary and uncertain. Sad.

Vader ripped his eyes away. The prisoner had still made no reply. So, he reached out with the force, carefully penetrating the weak defences of the mans addled mind. It was mostly incoherent nonsense. At the forefront, an image of a woman, and a little girl kept reappearing. Before Vader had the chance to dig any deeper, he sensed the man's love for them, unconditional, unending. Bright. It caused him to pull back, feeling momentarily blinded by its intensity. Then he scoffed at his own weakness. However, before he had a chance to try again, the man finally spoke.

"Neve?" he asked in a hoarse voice, at the same time as he tried to lift his hand towards the image. But they were firmly bound. Not that it would have mattered, Vader thought. The man was to weak, fading with every word he spoke. Vader leaned back on his heels, perhaps the man's broken mind could be of use to him after all.

"Neve? "the prisoner called again. Now starting to sound desperate, he swung his head around. Calming down only when he spotted Padme's smiling face. "There you are," he said, nervously licking his cracked lip. "Have you seen Mina? I can't find her. I can't find them."

Vader remained quiet, listening intently to the man's ravings. So, it was as he had thought, Padme had indeed lied to him. She had not only known where Obi Wan was, she had been there with his old master. Hiding from him, her own husband. Vader clenched his fist, gnawing on his teeth. What else had his she lied to him about? He clicked off the holo, putting it away, not wanting to see her deceitful face any longer.

"Does Neve have a child?" he asked carefully. He had not allowed himself to think anymore of the child either. However, he knew better than to trust her words. He trusted no one.

"A child," the man replied, sounding uncertain. Vader almost went over to shake it out of him, but refrained. With a weak mumble from the man, his patience was rewarded. "A boy,"

A boy. It whispered in awe. A boy.

Vader exhaled, the sound of his respirator sounding to loud in the quiet room. He squeezed his eyes shut, so he could think over the noise. But it was pointless. He felt breathless, as a strange pressure in his chest, he had not even known was there, suddenly let go. He had a son. A living son. His hand twitched involuntarily. He vaguely remembered the feeling of a firm kick pulsing against his palm, as it had gently cradled Padme's stomach. His eyes flew open, remembering another grip. Tight, unforgiving. Hateful.

The prisoner's eyes had gone wild, and he was straining against his restraints. "A daughter, "he gasped, before he looked up at Vader's mask. His eyes had regained some of their focus, and he seemed to finally notice Vader.

"Where is my daughter," he asked. His voice once again rang clear and strong.

"I don't know," Vader replied honestly, surprising himself. He was the one staring into nothing now, picturing a little boy. He must be three years old. No, almost four by now. When was he even born? Where?

"Good, "the prisoner replied smiling, before his eyes glazed over again. "Good."

"What is his name, "Vader asked softly. The boy's power was of no use to him yet off course. He was to young, even if he was powerful. And surely he was powerful. It was his son after all. But with time and proper training, together they would be invincible. Then all of it would be his.

"Who?" the prisoner asked, licking his lips. He was still raving. Absently Vader could hear him call desperately for his wife and daughter.

Normally having to repeat himself would have angered Vader, but now he simply felt dazed. "Neve's son. What is his name?" he asked again. Bending his mask close the prisoners face, so he would not miss a single word.

"Luke," the prisoner muttered, in between the mumble.

Luke.

Vader repeated it out loud to himself. "Luke."

Beneath his shock, he felt his anger stir again. How many lies had she told him? He needed to speak to her about it, But first he had to deal with the prisoner. The man's breathing was ragged now, and although his eyes were still wide open, they looked empty, his moment of clarity long gone.

Vader took a step back, straightening to his full height. He had briefly entertained the thought of letting the man live. If he was a friend of Padme, keeping him might make her more amendable. However, no one could ever hear the words that the prisoner had just uttered. Not even if the man before him did not know Padme's real identity. Unclipping his lightsaber from his belt, he lit it.

"I am sorry my love," the prisoner whispered, his head sagging forward, he closed his eyes. Resting his chin atop his broad chest. "I am sorry."

Vader stopped for a moment, as a thought just occurred to him. He tightened his grip on the lightsaber. " Where you lovers. You and Neve?" he asked icily. The man did not reply, and this time Vader ripped hard into the man's mind. No longer caring if he did any damage.

The prisoner gasped at the intrusion. But Vader saw only the other woman again, and felt himself relax. Pulling back, he quickly ended the man's life, with one single stroke through the heart. There was nothing more he would be able to tell him now, and Vader would make sure Padme would never know.

The two stormtroopers returned when he left, moving to dispose of the body. Vader turned to stare at them, as one busily started to unbuckle the dead man from the metal slab. They were his men, ready to respond to his every command. Yet he could not trust them. He could trust no one. Not with her. Or with his son.

Luke.

The voice sounded elated, almost joyful. Vader walked on, unable to stop its whispers. From here, the entry to the turbolift was located inside the hangar. But unlike the upper floors of the tower, the lower floors were crowded with people. Many were busy doing repairs to the various fighters he had stored there. He paid them no heed, as he strode for the lift.

He had made it all the way there, before he realized he had not asked a single question about Obi Wan. He cursed his own distracted mind, it had been a foolish mistake. Agitated he paced inside the small lift. When it finally reached its destination. He was half way out the door, before it had even opened all the way.

Letting his long legs carry him to her door, he did not hesitate. Without bothering to knock, he entered her quarters. However, when he saw her, the restless energy that had brought him there, transformed into something else. Something forgotten.

Padme was standing by the bed, her wet hair draped across one naked shoulder, wrapped in only a towel. She looked beautiful. Though also small and vulnerable. So easily crushed, if he willed it. His anger faded momentarily, and he almost went to her. He had even taken half a step towards her, before he remembered himself and stopped.

He heard her silent gasp when she spotted him. Saw her quickly lifting her hands up in front of her chest, as if to protect herself. Because her arms were bare, the cuffs stood out against her bare skin like an ugly scar. Like a brand. A flicker of something that felt like guilt hit him. He truly did not wish they were necessary. But she had proven she could not be trusted.

Looking uncertain at his abrupt arrival, she gazed over at him, where he was still lingering in the doorway, one foot half way in, the other still lingering on the threshold. Part of him wished she would come to him willingly. Touch him like she had only last night. The other part still trembled with fury. She was a liar.

No!

Vader shook his head, taking a deep breath. No. Not like this, never again. Determined he pushed the rage back. "You lied to me," he said coolly, folding his arms across his chest.

She stiffened and he could see her expression close down, the politicians mask falling in place. Though knowing her as well as he did, he could still see her mind work. Probably going through which lie he was referring to. For there was more than one. He was sure of it.

"I don't know what you are talking about," she replied a little too quickly. Her stony expression gave little away, but he could see the slight tremble of her hands. She still held them aloft, as if using them as a shield, between her half naked body and him. What was she afraid of exactly?

"But I think you do, "he replied, stepping further into the room. He would not be distracted by her. Yet, every time he looked at her, the memories came. Memories of running his hand across her skin, tickling her just to hear her laugh. Memories of her touch. Her hand clasping his desperately. Her fear, as he squeezed her windpipe tight. He sucked in a breath, this time he recognized the feeling for what it was, guilt. "Where is my son?"

Padme froze, and her brave mask dissolved before him. Vader could see her fear then, her desolation. Instinct once again urged him forward, wanting to offer her comfort. He could not remember the last time he had wanted to protect anyone.

"How did you know?" she asked, not bothering to lie this time.

"It does not matter," he replied stiffly, "Tell me, is he with Obi Wan?" That thought infuriated him more than anything. "With the man that did this to me- "Angrily he pointed at himself. His suit had never felt as much like a prison, as it did now. Obi Wan was still keeping them apart, even now.

Padme glared at him, "You did this to yourself," she snapped.

He bent his head. Off course she would side with him. He should have known that much. "You made me believe I killed our son," he snapped back, denying to himself that her words stung.

"I never said that," she replied quietly. Swallowing she let her hands drop, looking down at her bare feet. When she lifted her head again, her eyes were fierce. Protective. ""You have done your best to destroy everything I love, including yourself. I will not allow you to destroy our child. That's why I lied."

I know.

And her. He had almost destroyed her. He hesitated, staring down at her face. She did not look vulnerable anymore. In fact, she looked ready to do battle, knowing against him she could not win. He would not have been surprised if she had drawn a weapon on him, if she had one available.

"Is Obi Wan training him? Turning him into be an obedient little Jedi?" he hissed, clenching his fist. When Padme noticed, she flinched. He forced himself to relax, he did not need to be able to feel her emotions through the force, to tell she was afraid. She did not have to be, he was not that foolish boy any longer. He would not hurt her. Not again. Never again.

She shook her head, staring directly up at him. Fear or not, she still stood her ground. She always had. "Luke will be what he wants to be," she said, straightening her back. "He will not have others decided his fate, before he is old enough to make the decision himself. He will not be like us; thrown into responsibilities we were far too young to carry."

"I am his father, "he replied firmly. "And I demand you tell me where he is. His fate is very much my concern."

To his surprise Padme walked over to him, stopping just outside his reach. Her hair had started to dry. A dark lock was curling upwards, clinging stubbornly to her exposed throat. Unable to stop himself, he brushed it off, and this time she did not flinch.

Instead her gaze softened, and she looked at him in a way he remembered. It was the way he had longed for, for so very long. Ever since he had reached for her through the force, and had only been met with emptiness.

"But don't you see? It's not about you, it's about him. About what he needs," she said gently. "And I know some part of you, do not want this life for him. If you want to be his father, act like one. Love him for his sake, not your own."

Love him. He chewed on the words." I will protect him. I will train him to use his power," he replied, intertwining the lock around a gloved finger, studying the shiny strands.

"That's not the same thing and you know it," she replied sounding disappointed. "When you remember the difference, I will tell you how to find him myself. Until then, he will remain safe."

"If you have your way, you will keep him from me," he said, dropping her hair, to glare at her beneath his mask. They could all be together, like they should be. Why did she insist in keeping them apart?

"If I had my way you would have been there all along, "she replied sadly, before gazing into the distance.

"When he smiled for the first time. When he took his first step. Just to fall over a moment later," she laughed softly then, and as she started to speak of their son. Her love shown so bright in her eyes, it almost touched him. He listened intently, mesmerized by her voice. But then she abruptly stopped, and he could see the moment she remembered where she was. He blinked, it felt like the light in the room suddenly went dark.

When she spoke again, any trace of the joy he had just glimpsed was long gone. "I asked you to come with us, remember?"

I should have.

He did remember, he would always remember. He hesitated again, whenever she got to close, his mind did not function properly. The whispers moving to close to the surface.

"I will find my son. With or without your help," he told her. If it had been anyone else, he would have pried the information out of them with the force, or other methods. Threats were secondary to his nature now. Most of the time he didn't even have to utter them, his presence alone was enough to make people fall in line. But she was not any body, she was his wife.

Her face fell, and at the disturbing though of Padme in pain, he turned to leave. Not wanting to be near her, in his current state.

"Anakin please," she cried, and he halted in his tracks. Though he didn't turn to face her, until he felt her small hand tug at his elbow. Relenting he turned. He didn't even bother to correct her. If it made her happy, he supposed she could call him that.

Her eyes were wide, and he could see her bravely fighting back tears. He wished she would stop doing that, and although it was trembling, the hand holding him felt surprisingly strong. Her nails making deep groves into the leather.

"Please," she pleaded again. He almost felt her then, through her touch. But it was not the soothing feeling he remembered from the past. This was sheer terror. It was wrong, all wrong. This was not how it was supposed to be.

When he didn't answer, she let go. Looking utterly defeated. The feeling of her presence, however weak it had been, vanished. He wanted it back. Back as it had been all those years ago, when his presence had brought her joy not fear. He did not wish her pain. Never again. So, he found himself nodding. For now, at least, she would have her reprieve. At least until he figured out what to do next. He could not risk the emperor finding his son.

Padme visibly relaxed, letting out a breath, and she offered him the tiniest indication of a smile. But they both knew; this was far from over. Though when he left, he had the strangest feeling, she might just have won after all.

Notes:)

Thanks for all your kind words. I am very busy at work at the moment, leaving me little time to write. But here is finally an update. There was supposed to be some more, an update on two little ones, but its not finished yet.

Vader missed something vital here, don't you think;) I was never sure to what extent the sith could read minds in the OT. But Kylo Ren seems able to pry detailed information from people. So here it goes.

IntelEwok Thanks:) You think? I am finding young Vader hard to grasp to be honest. He is not the Vader we know, yet he is not Anakin either. And with Padme there he is unraveling bit by bit. I also don't want him to be to soft, he is Vader after all.

Betterways I thought about it, but in the end its all the emperors. His men, his ships, everything, and that is what Vader is starting to realize.

221Shelb Lover your reviews as always:)

FireShifter Small update on the twins is up next:)