Ch 25

Padme

After we quickly got dressed again, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Maybe we shouldn't have gotten intimate after what happened but, he was leaving. How long would it be until I saw him again, for him to come back to me from that mission Palpatine was sending him on.

But there were things we still disagreed on, but wasn't every marriage like that? Every relationship?

Nothing was perfect, and yet us being together couldn't feel any different. We were opposites, and we had become one in many different ways. All I could really do is trust the love we felt for each other.

We arrived at home quite late that night, yet from the landing strip I could see the lights inside the apartment were on. No doubt Darra was awake waiting for our return. Boy there was a lot I would need to explain to her…

Anakin walked me to the living room and left our suitcases there, I'd put them away later.

A:"I love you Angel… I sent a message to my troopers to come here at once. You'll be safe alright? I'll contact you when I can, it may not be often since we have to lay low you know…"

I nodded and grabbed his hand while I used the other one to stroke his face.

P:"I'll be okay Ani… I love you and please be careful. I want you back in one whole piece and believe me… I will check…

That got a small laugh out of him as he put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

A:"You really are amazing my love… I'll be alright I promise. And remember, no one knows my real name. You must refer to me as Vader at all times. I assume you're going to explain to Darra what's going on?"

P:"Only if you are okay with it, she's like a sister to me Ani. I love her very much." He nodded understanding what I was saying.

A:"Alright Angel, I trust you. I love you…" He leaned in and gave me a long, soft kiss. When we parted I felt like a piece of me was leaving.

P:"I love you too.." and with that he turned around and left. I watched as his ship took off and he went off to his work. Suddenly everything hit me at once like a ton of bricks. Could we really keep this a secret? What if the Emperor found out? I'd seen the kind of punishments he was capable of and I couldn't put Anakin through that all over again.

These thoughts were suddenly interrupted as I heard Darra scream my name and run to my side.

D:"Padme! You're here!" I held my arms open and gave her a long hard hug. Oh how I missed her!

P:"Hey Darra! How are you? I missed you! What did you do while I was gone?"

D:"Well not much, mostly hung out with Artoo and Threepio. They argue about everything! It was so funny! Oh! And Sabe stayed with-"

S:"Hello Milady!" said a voice behind me. I couldn't believe this.

P:"Sabe? What are you doing here?!"

I ran to her side and gave her a huge hug. It had been so long since I saw her before the wedding.

S:"Your husband told me to stay and watch little Darra while you were gone. I must say it was rather strange seeing him so concerned for the child… He doesn't seem the compassionate kind…"

P:"Oh Sabe… I need to tell you so many things…."

I led them both to the couch and proceeded to tell them everything that happened during our honeymoon, well almost everything. I left certain details out since Darra was in the room.

She seemed happy about me and Anakin being together. I was glad, she deserved a happy home after being a slave all her life.

I saw her yawn a few times as I told my story and so I decided to cut it short and send her off to bed.

Of course she complained as any normal child, but she went off nonetheless after I gave her s mall kiss on the cheek.

I turned back to Sabe and she had mischievous look in her eyes.

S:"So tell me everything from before the wedding! And I know you held off on some er, details while Darra was here." She said with a wink. I smiled and felt a blush come up to my face.

Sabe was the closest friend I had while I was a queen and a senator, she was my most trusted maiden and I considered her a part of my family.

I told her everything, even Vader's real name. Something Darra didn't know, we had decided that on the way back from Cloud city.

P:"I love him Sabe… like I've never loved anyone before, there's good in him. I've seen it in the way he's treated me and Darra, he needs me." She only nodded and then the room was silent.

S:"Well Padme I know you love him, but you must be very careful, you were gone for over a year, and a lot happened since. Has he told you everything really? Everything he's done? Did he tell you about order 66…? These Sith in power, you have no idea what they're capable of" I was about to speak when the doorbell rang.

We got up together to answer it, I was cautiously holding a blaster in my hand as I looked through the peephole in the door and saw it was trooper without a helmet.

I opened the door and held the blaster behind me where I felt Sabe take it from my hands.

P:"You must be the Clones An- Lord Vader sent, correct?"

He vowed first and then saluted me.. It was strange, sometimes I forgot how much power Anakin had in the galaxy, enough to have his own small battalion.

C.A.:"Yes milady, at your service. Master Anakin sent us to watch over you while he's gone, I'm Captain Appo, this is Captain Rex, Pong Krell and Fives. We are our Lord's most trusted clones milady. You'll be safe."

I was a little shocked they knew his real name, Anakin must trust them with a lot more than that if that's the case.

P:"I'm pleased to meet you, come in! Make yourselves at home." I led them to the spacious living room as we sat and I had Sabe bring us some drinks.

F:"Milady you are a most gracious and kind host, and quite beautiful if you don't mind me saying so. It's no wonder our commander is so in love with you, just from the way he gave us order to watch over you. I can tell you this, we're willing to lay our lives down for you."

P:"Thank you Fives, I assure you I am more than capable of taking care of myself, but I can see you know how dangerous this situation has become. The Emperor cannot know about my uh, close relationship with Anakin."

R:"We understand Milady, Your secret is safe with us. Now, there are more of us coming in the morning to switch shifts, if you go out anywhere, we will personally escort you. And you will always have at least four guards here. We also know there's a young girl here, the same rules apply for her. As for your handmaide…"

P:"Sabe is also trained as a personal guard. In my days as Queen she often disguised herself as me to keep me safe in dangerous situations, I assure she can handle herself."

R:"Very well, I trust your judgement Milady. It's getting late, we better head to our posts. Goodnight Milady."

They all got up and vowed, two made their way out the front door, and two went off to the landing pad. Anakin had told me there was also a security system installed in Artoo, he would keep watch in my room with me.

I showed Sabe to one of the guest rooms, it was directly next to mine and Darra's room, should an emergency arise. I left Threepio in Darra's room, and brought Artoo in mine. I got ready for bed, and suddenly I grew restless.

Although Anakin and I had only been sleeping together for a few days, I had grown accustomed to having his large warm body draped over mines. Or the way his arms held me in his sleep, the way I felt every part of his body against mine.

I felt a couple of tears slide down my cheeks, he had only been gone a couple of hours and I missed him more than anything.

If only I could call him… but I knew the risk involved. I couldn't jeopardize our relationship; I would have to wait.

I crawled into bed after brushing my hair and fell asleep after hours of restless tossing and turning, but in my dreams he was there by my side as he was meant to be.