Chapter 36

Padmé ran down the village street, but it was as though her destination was always getting further away. In the distance she could see black smoke billowing into the sky. She knew that if she did not get there in time it would be too late to save them. Struggling against the exhaustion that filled her, against the pain in her lungs as they fought to get enough oxygen, she pushed onward, knowing that every second counted.

She had almost reached the street where the house was when before her a long line of white armored clone troopers appeared. They trained their weapons on her, forcing her to stop.

"I have to get to my parents!" she cried. "They're in trouble!"

"It's too late," one of the clones told her. "The fire has consumed the house. No one got out alive."

"NO!" Padmé screamed, trying to push her way through the wall of white armor. "I have to help them! I have to save them!"

A hand came down upon her shoulder and turned her around roughly, and she found herself staring into the yellow eyes of Palpatine. She tried to scream but no sound would come out of her mouth.

"I warned you, Senator," Palpatine hissed. "But you refused to listen. I told you what would happen, Amidala. I told you what price you would pay."

"No, please!" she implored. "Don't hurt anyone else, I'm begging you!"

But Palpatine only smiled, his eyes moving down her body to look at her midsection. "Oh I've only just started, Milady," he said, his repugnant smile growing. "I've only just started…"

"Padmé, wake up. Wake up!"

Padmé's eyes snapped open and darted around the room frantically. "Ani?" she asked the panic evident in her voice.

Vader reached over and activated the bedside lamp. "You were having a bad dream," he told her.

Padmé nodded, torn between tremendous relief that she'd only been dreaming and the terror that still ran through her veins from the nightmare. "My parents," she told him softly. "He had them killed!"

Vader frowned, and moved over to her again. "It was just a dream," he assured her, taking her by the shoulders. "Your parents are fine."

"How do you know?" she cried as panic took a hold of her. "He has spies everywhere! He had holos of us on our honeymoon, Anakin! He was watching us! How do we know he's not watching us here? Right now??"

Vader had never seen his wife so rattled. She was on the verge of hysteria. "Padmé, listen to me," he said, taking her face into his hands. "He's not watching us, he doesn't even know you're here," he assured her.

Padmé shook her head. "How do you know?" she asked, her eyes filling with tears.

Vader didn't know what to tell her, for, in truth, he couldn't be certain. The fact that Palpatine had holos of them on their honeymoon had both surprised and unnerved him. "Trust me, okay?" he said at last. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, I'm not going to let anyone hurt your family. Palpatine will be dead before he can put any nefarious plans he has into play, I promise you. The Jedi know all about him now, Padmé, and they are watching him very closely."

Padmé took hope from his words. "You… you told them?" she asked. "You told the Jedi about Palpatine?"

Vader nodded. "I told them everything," he replied. "They sent representatives to Tatooine to verify my story," he added. "I suppose they are having a hard time trusting me since I told them that I've been Palpatine's apprentice."

"I suppose so," she agreed. Knowing that the Jedi were aware of Palpatine's true identity made her feel better and she finally began to relax. "Will they arrest him then?" she asked.

Vader nodded, running a hand through her tousled hair. "They are watching him very closely," he assured her. "He won't be able to break wind without them knowing about it," he added with a smile.

Padmé smiled, loving him for trying to make her feel better. "Good," she said. She sighed. "That was a terrible dream, Ani," she told him, a frown creasing her brow.

"I could tell," he said. "Nightmares are terrible things; I've had a few in my life as well."

"I know you have," she replied, reaching out and stroking his face softly. "You've lived under this monster's thumb for so long it's a wonder you've kept your sanity all this time."

Vader shrugged. "I've developed a pretty thick hide," he told her. "I've had too."

"Yes, I noticed that about you," she replied.

Vader lifted an eyebrow. "You did?" he said.

Padmé nodded. "I have a pretty good understanding of human psychology," she told him. "I had you pegged after about three days."

Vader laughed. "I'm that easy to figure out, am I?" he asked.

"No, not at all," she replied. "In fact, it's quite the opposite. But I had a vested interest in gaining an understanding in the way your mind works."

"I'm surprised to hear you say that," he replied. "When you agreed to marry me I expected that you'd hate me forever. You told me as much."

Padmé shrugged. "Well, I did plan to," she admitted. "But that was before I realized there was more to you than met the eye."

"I see," Vader replied, playing with her hair. "Well, I'm very glad that you were able to see past my crusty exterior," he told her with a smile.

Padmé laughed. "It wasn't easy," she admitted. "You were very difficult to like in the beginning."

"I know," he replied with a smile. "I'm a real bastard when I want to be," he added.

She shook her head. "And mighty proud of that too," she said.

"Well, it comes in handy sometimes," he said, wrapping his arms around her with a yawn. "I think we need to sleep some more," he told her. "Otherwise I won't be able to wake you up in my favorite manner."

"We can't have that," she said, nestling back into his arms.

"Absolutely not," he agreed with a yawn, kissing her bare shoulder.

The next morning

"Milady, I've brought you some tea," Dormé said as she stood outside Padmé's bedroom door. She received no answer, and so she lightly knocked on the door. "Milady?" she asked, opening the door tentatively. She walked in carrying a cup of tea for Padmé. It was quiet in the bedroom, and she figured Padmé must still be sleeping. Deciding to leave it for her, Dormé walked into the room and stopped when she saw Padmé's ripped nightgown on the floor. Her eyes moved over the floor and soon spied a pair of large black boots, and then a pile of clothing that was definitely not Padmé's. Looking up at the bed she smiled as she saw Vader sleeping in the bed, one large arm draped possessively over his wife. Padmé was also asleep, with Vader spooned up behind her. Dormé turned and left them to sleep, taking the cup of tea with her.

It was quite late the next morning when Padmé and Vader finally emerged from their bedroom. Dormé simply smiled when they walked into the dining room hand in hand, not at all surprised by their late start to the day.

"Good morning," Dormé greeted them with a smile. "Can I get you some breakfast?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you Dormé," Padmé replied as Vader pulled out a chair for her.

"She didn't seem terribly surprised to see me," Vader commented once Dormé had left the room.

"No she didn't," Padmé agreed. She smiled as she remembered something. "You know, she predicted weeks ago that I would end up falling in love with you," she told him.

"Really?" he asked. "That's amazing considering the rocky start we had."

Padmé nodded. "Yes it is," she replied. "I just laughed at her when she said that," she added. "I guess I'll have to eat my words now."

Vader picked up her hand and kissed it. "Yes, I'm afraid so," he teased. "Not something you're accustomed to, I'm sure."

Padmé laughed again. "And what does that mean exactly?" she asked.

"You're a politician," he replied with a smile. "Having to admit you're wrong is against your religion."

Padmé's eyes widened in surprise, which only increased Vader's amusement.

"You just love to tease me, don't you?" she asked.

Vader nodded. "Absolutely," he agreed with a grin as Dormé entered the room with breakfast for both of them.

"It's good to see you, Lord Vader," Dormé said as she set a plate down before each of them. "I can't say that I'm surprised to see you though," she couldn't resist adding, looking at Padmé with a smile.

Vader laughed. "I understand my wife has something besides her breakfast to eat where you're concerned," he commented, looking at Padmé.

"Yes, as a matter of fact," Dormé replied, looking at Padmé pointedly.

Padmé laughed. "All right, all right!" she exclaimed. "I was wrong, you were right. Happy now?" she asked with a smile.

Dormé nodded. "Yes, now was that so hard?" she asked.

"Join us, Dormé," Vader said, surprising her with his invitation. "I want to talk to you both about my plans."

Dormé looked at Padmé, and then took a seat across from them. "Plans?" she asked. "What plans do you mean?"

"I'm sure Padmé has told you about the situation," he began. "About Palpatine's threats."

Dormé nodded. "Yes she has," she replied, looking at Padmé. "However it seems her plans have gone awry," she pointed out.

"Her plan was unacceptable," Vader said simply. "I won't allow him to split us up," he added, looking at Padmé.

"I couldn't agree more," Dormé said.

"But since we are together, that creates a dangerous situation," Vader continued. "One that must be handled very carefully. I want you to stay here, Padmé," he told her. "And I think perhaps your family ought to come here as well," he added. "I will ask the Jedi Council to send someone here to protect you against the off chance that Palpatine learns of your whereabouts."

Padmé frowned. "What about you?" she asked. "Where are you going?"

"I think you know where I need to go," Vader replied.

Padmé exchanged a look with Dormé, and then looked back at Vader. "Please tell me you're not going to confront Palpatine," she said.

"Of course," he replied. "I told you that I was going to deal with him."

"Let the Jedi deal with him," she returned. "Once they've verified your story they will arrest him and he will be out of our lives forever!"

"The Jedi can't handle him, Padmé," he countered. "They have no idea who they're up against! He's fooled them all for years; do you really think they have a clue what he's capable of?"

Dormé was beginning to feel uneasy sitting here listening to their discussion. She wondered if Padmé had told her husband of her suspicions. Surely if he knew that there was possibly a child in the equation he would not be so reckless. Or would he?

Padmé remained silent, knowing how strongly her husband felt about getting his revenge against Palpatine. And yet, the thought of him taking him on alone, unsanctioned, terrified her. Until the Jedi believed Vader and saw Palpatine as the threat he claimed the chancellor was, any action taken against Palpatine would be deemed as a criminal act.

"Anakin, please wait for the Jedi," she pleaded. "Please don't do anything that could land you in prison. Or worse."

Vader sighed, not wanting to upset his wife, but not willing to let go of his revenge either. "Padmé, don't ask me this," he said with a frown. "I've waited a long time for my revenge."

"But you have more to consider now than just you own welfare," Dormé spoke up quite unexpectedly. "You have your wife's, and quite possibly…"

"Dormé!" Padmé interjected before she could say any more.

Vader looked at his wife. "What was she about to say, Padmé?" he asked. When she said nothing he looked back at Dormé. "Finish your sentence," he told her.

Dormé looked at him, and then at Padmé, who was giving her a stern look. "I…I think perhaps I've said too much," she stammered, and stood up. "This is a conversation that ought to be between a husband and wife," she added, and then ran from the room.

Vader was growing exasperated and looked back at his wife. "What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "What is she on about?"

Padmé sighed, realizing that there would be no getting out of telling him her suspicions now. "I'm late, Anakin," she told him, looking down at her half eaten breakfast. "Almost a week."

Vader frowned, not experienced enough to get the subtlety of what she was telling him. "Late??" he asked. "What do you mean late?"

Padmé squirmed in her seat, realizing that she'd have to put it into clear, unmistakable language. "I think I'm pregnant, Anakin," she told him finally.

When Vader did not say anything in response, Padmé looked up at him. "Please say something," she said quietly.

Vader was too shocked to say anything for a moment, the thought of a baby so far from his mind that he was unprepared with a response. "Pregnant?" he said at last. "You're pregnant??"

"I don't know for sure," she said, "but…"

He pushed his chair out and stood up suddenly, and then turned her chair so that she was facing him. Kneeling down on the floor before her, he brought a large hand to her abdomen, his face a picture of concentration.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Seeing if you're pregnant," he told her.

"How can you tell?" she asked.

But Vader didn't reply, for his mind was too focused on searching out the depths of her womb for any sign of life. He knew instinctively that he would recognize it, that his child would have a Force presence even at this early stage.

Padmé watched him, fascinated. She wasn't sure what to expect; would he be happy if she was pregnant? Or would it only complicate things?

And then he smiled. "Guess what?" he said as he looked up at her.

"What?" she asked.

"There are two of them," he told her as his smile grew. "You're carrying twins, Senator."