Thank you for the favorites, follows, and reviews.

Apologies for taking so long to update, but as I said in Surprises: The Price of Freedom, I got a new job and I needed a break. Also, I needed a little extra time to get this chapter right. Hopefully the next update won't take too long.

Thank you to my beta, The Kinetic Violinist! You are awesome!

Vader comes home to find an unhappy Padmé. So Vader tries to make it up to her.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Earn Me

The next day...

Coruscant

In her blue and grey gown, Padmé Amidala-Vader watched her husband's shuttle dock from one of the balconies.

She stalked down and back to her chamber. Looking out onto the city, but not really looking.

Fuming.

Sometime later, she felt him approach.

"Hello, Senator," he greeted and briefly nodded to her.

Vader.

"You're back," Padmé turned. Her arms crossed.

Even without the Force, Vader could tell she was in a bad mood from her body language.

"Yes," Vader said.

Obviously.

The Senator crossed her arms. "Where were you?

If it wasn't so juvenile, Vader would have rolled his eyes. "Surely you've watched the HoloNet." Nor was it anywhere or anything he wished to discuss. Or think of for that matter. He was tired and wished for nothing more than to meditate. Vader then looked at her. She looked so...enticing when she was angry like this.

On the second thought, maybe he wouldn't meditate at all.

Vader took a few steps towards her.

"You could have comm'd."

Here we go, Vader huffed under his breath.

What was her problem?

"Why are you really acting like this?" Vader asked.

"We slept together. Then you just left." With neither a goodbye nor news from him until now, and it had been days. "How do you think that made me feel?"

Vader was about to say that he did not know. That he did not care.

He paused.

Then again, looking back at his youth, maybe Vader did understand.

Vader supposed that was in a way how Sidious and sometimes even Tyranus treated him.

"You're holding the saber too firmly," He chided.

A twelve year old Vader tried to loosen his grip.

Then with a twirl and swift kick from Tyranus's left boot, Vader flew to the ground. The lightsaber landed swiftly into Tyranus's manicured hand.

"Now too lightly," Tyranus studied the boy's lightsaber. Then looked over to his Master.

Sidious was watching in the background over the communications, "Again," He ordered."

Minutes later, Vader was on the ground again.

"Again," Sidious snapped.

The same results followed minutes later.

As Vader tried to stand up, Tyranus and Sidious nodded to one another.

Sidious then said, "We will continue this tomorrow." Then his blue image disappeared.

They would beat him. Test him. Use him. Then leave, very rarely giving a "goodbye", a brief reply, or any sort of feedback. He remembered it always left a sour feeling in his mouth.

"You felt... used," Vader nodded in understanding. "That was not my intention." It truly wasn't. "I... apologize." Vader could not believe he said that. He supposed he had apologized to Threepio once or twice for losing his temper and damaging him, but never apologized to another being of flesh. To his Masters, perhaps, but only then because he knew he had to; it wasn't like he really meant it. At least, not anymore.

Padmé felt surprised. Not only did he...understand how she felt but that he apologized?

Padmé put her hands up to stop him. "Oh, no, no," She backed away.

Vader groaned, "What now?" Was there something else?

"After an amazing night...and morning." She added. "You left. Left." She emphasized. "Just like that." He wasn't getting off that easily. Not in this millennium. "You'll have to make it up to me."

Vader gave a quizzical look. "I already apologized." That was something he almost never did. She was lucky to get that. Now, couldn't they move on to something more pleasurable?

Was he really sorry? Padmé was hardly convinced.

If he was truly sorry, he wouldn't be trying to put his hands up her skirt directly after his "big apology".

Actions spoke louder than words.

"I am not one of your...trophies." She quickly thought back to his collection of heads and lightsabers. "I am not a toy that you can play with when you're bored or lonely or horny." She briefly looked below his belt." True, she never had any trouble using sex to get what she needed or wanted, but she also had her limits.

She wanted Vader to respect her. Want her. Appreciate her. And not just for sex.

Even Rush Clovis of all beings did that much.

Padmé nearly groaned at the thought.

"If you want me, earn me! Until then, and besides public purposes," She locked eyes with him. "We are done."

"We are not done!" Vader growled. His hands were already shaped into iron fists.

If his visions came to pass, they would never be done.

They're destinies were intertwined.

For better or worse.

"For now, we are." Padmé went over to the door and opened it, clearly telling him to get out. "And I'm locking my chambers at night."

Vader raised his gloved hands. A moment later the door was ripped off the durasteel hinges.

Padmé immediately let go of the door handle. And just in time, because the door CRASHED across her path and into the hallway wall.

Padmé looked back at him.

Shocked.

Horrified.

Vader looked down at the small woman. His eyes could have bore holes into her. "You really think that would stop me?" And he stalked out down the hall.

Later...

Vader paced back and forth like a caged animal.

After leaving the Senator's chambers, he tried to practice with his training droids, but to no avail. All he did was crush them with his fury.

He apologized, why?

Why wasn't that enough?

Perhaps he should have waited to...

He sighed.

He didn't know.

He did see a flicker of something in her eyes.

Fear.

That was on of the first times she truly seemed afraid of him.

Or possibly she had been afraid of him before and this was first he noticed? Or this was the first time she wasn't wearing her political mask around him.

He had certainly opened up to her more. Just as she had. Perhaps in more ways than he realized.

Then he messed it all up. He never should have left like that, but he just...he didn't think. About his mission? Yes. About himself? Yes. About her? No.

The next morning...

Vader thought he should leave her alone.

Vader studied her for a moment.

"Paperwork," Padmé did not look up at him. She didn't feel like speaking or fighting with him. She felt they had done enough of that.

Also, she was somewhat distracted and not just because of Vader.

She saw Clovis earlier when she arrived at the Senate. Yes, she had to be careful. Vader was watching her every move, but Clovis didn't speak or even look at her. He didn't even try.

Padmé may not have been strong in the Force, but she sensed a disturbance.

She sensed Mon and Bail had something to do with this. They were turning him against her.

She didn't when or how but something would have to be done to keep Clovis on her side.

"This is all very...new to me." Vader did his best to explain.

Padmé nodded as she put her pen down, "I know."

Vader studied her. Trying to come up with some reply. Answer. Some clue to her new riddle. "How am I supposed to...earn you?" As she said. What did that even mean?

Padmé flashed him a smile as she turned to leave, "Surprise me."

Two days later...

Cody and Rex were standing guard from outside the door.

Artoo was cleaning the Imperial Seal.

"Miss Padmé, a package from Lord Vader has arrived."

Padmé sighed.

What was it?

A head?

Unless it was Palpatine's, the thought made Padmé shake her head.

Some Sith artifact?

Possibly.

Slowly, she opened the chest.

Padmé eyes widened in shock.

Jewels. Diamonds. Rubies.

The monarchs of Naboo did not even own such magnificent jewels.

"They're the most beautiful jewels I've ever seen." Padmé admired them for a moment more then closed the lid. "Send them back to Lord Vader." She told C-3PO as she sat back down at her desk.

C-3PO stood there bewildered. He did not understand human behavior though he knew one thing for sure, Master Vader would not be pleased.

One hour later...

Vader knocked the door down off the hinges.

"Again?" Padmé said, this time with a touch of amusement.

"What in Sith hells was wrong with my gift?" His apology or whatever this really was. Also, not that Vader cared, but did she not realize how many beings had died while mining those things?

Dozens.

Perhaps more.

"I have many jewels and other valuables." She didn't need anymore. "Don't buy me, earn me."

A few days later...

Padmé sighed for what seemed like the one hundredth time this week.

This morning, Vader had showered her chambers and the outside with flowers. Roses in every shade. Lillies from Alderaan, but mostly Leias from her native homeworld of Naboo. How Vader knew those were her favorite, she had no idea. It could be a coincidence, but Padmé didn't think so.

An hour ago, Vader had practically ordered her to get into his ship. They were going...somewhere. Where? She had no idea.

This was...Galactic Mall.

Padmé's jaw could have dropped to the floor.

The biggest mall on all of Coruscant. Some even said the biggest in entire Galaxy. Though rumor had it the Hutts' had an even larger one out there in Galactic Hutt Space. When Padmé became Empress, she would finally see if this was fact or fiction. After dealing with all the messy political business, of course.

Padmé stopped herself.

Realizing that this went against everything she said to Vader.

Perhaps he was better at politics than she realized.

Or at least the man had hope.

"Milady," Rex lowered his head, "You also have a message from Lord Vader."

A message?

Padmé took the small communication device into her hands. Then she quickly realized it was a recorded message.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance.

What? The coward couldn't face her himself?

"I know what you're thinking," Vader said through some static. "But don't mistake this as me...buying you."

Padmé was growing bored with the recording already, "And what do you call this?"

"It's me giving you back something you desire more than anything in the Galaxy."

Besides her brother's corpse, Padmé had no idea what he meant.

"Your freedom," Vader said in a rather intimate voice.

Padmé's eyes widened. That, she had not seen coming.

"You no longer need to ask my permission to go wherever it is you need to go."

Padmé's jaw dropped to the floor. Could this be real?

"But your security must still be present at all times. Wherever you go."

Padmé didn't find that the least bit surprising.

"Go off without them...needless to say there will consequences."

In other words, I will find you. And there would again, be consequences.

"You also have access to your own credits and bank accounts."

Padmé was glad. She no longer had to rely on Vader for everything. She could do and buy what she wanted or needed. On top of asking permission to go do anything.

However, she sensed there was a catch. And she was right.

"Except for your...Outer Rim accounts."

Vader added.

Padmé's eyes widened. How did he... That was impossible!

"I'll see you tonight at 2100 hours. Do not be late." He warned and the message ended.

Padmé sat there for a long time. Wondering what to do next.

She wanted him to do something...nice. She certainly hadn't expected all this. Though she wouldn't lie and say that she wanted of her freedom. Vader and his goons still constantly watching over her shoulder. Her every move. Again, it wasn't so surprising.

She also rather disturbed at the knowledge of the loss of secret emergency bank accounts. Namely that Vader knew about them. Did Palpatine?

Padmé shook her head. Nevermind that. Nothing she could do about it right. Later.

Right now... she turned back to the building to her right. She needed this. To get away from...all this. These games, even if only for a few hours.

Also she got a part of her life back. Not quite everything she wanted.

Still, it was a start.

With Rex and Cody closely behind her, Padmé rose from her seat and decided to go enjoy her new found freedom- semi freedom.

Meanwhile...

Vader wondered what was he doing again.

The Senator had to be Force sensitive. Perhaps a witch from Dathomir. Playing tricks on him.

First, he secretly bought a flower shop here on Coruscant. Then he let her out to go to some Galactic Mall. Somewhere she liked to go during her free time before they were didn't understand her obsession with clothes and shopping. It was a weakness. Besides it was a job for the droids.

But Vader supposed she would like it. Also it showed that he trust her. Somewhat.

She had purposely blabbed that they weren't properly married. Though he supposed that was to get back at him.

However she had said nothing about his identity to anyone. He had been checking for...well, awhile.

Perhaps she was going to use it to her own advantage. Though really, besides winning a Podrace and blowing up the Trade Federation, Anakin Skywalker had been a nobody. Though Vader still had no desire for anyone to know. Namely the public.

Speaking of the public, Vader feared for her safety. Some bounty hunter or the Emperor himself could pull something. Yes, he had Cody, Rex, and a fair sized garrison of Clone Troopers at their disposal. He also had a secret team of spies on their tail. Should anything happen and they would report immediately to him.

Perhaps he should have followed them. Then again, Sidious was probably already suspicious.

Nor was he sure how he'd pass all this off with Sidious- a publicity thing perhaps. Charity even? Wasn't there one for war orphans going on right now. Yes, that sounded good.

He was even planning to let he speak with her they would be closely monitored and supervised. He may have grown...attached...attracted to the Senator, but again, he hardly trusted the woman. Much.

Vader shook his head. When was the last time he meditated? He couldn't remember.

More importantly when was the last time he heard from Aventra?

He was beginning to she was lost...that was fine. She was weak. No point in wasting any more time with someone who didn't have the stomach for it.

She could even be dead.

Either way... Vader lowered his head.

Months of tests and work just...gone.

Now what? Where were he find another apprentice? Would he? Who would serve him? Who would do his bidding? When would he even have time?

He shook his head.

He didn't know.

Again, he should meditate.

Maybe things would become clearer.

He supposed now was as good a time as ever.

Later...

Padmé came home with several bags in her hand. Threepio and Artoo helped her carry the rest. She had boughten over a dozen new outfits. She had been so out of touch with the latest fashions. Maybe now she could catch up.

Among a few...surprises.

Then when she came home, she found not Vader but another surprise. Threepio led her to a secure room with a communications device. She was allowed one hour to speak with her sister.

It was so nice.

Amazing.

Padmé let Sola do most of the talking. Not sure how much she should tell her.

Sola had just finished telling her about Dad, Darred, his promotion, and how Pooja was doing in school.

Finally Sola got to the point. "Not that I haven't enjoyed speaking with you." They hadn't heard from Padmé since she briefly visited. "But why now?" Vader had limited her comm calls.

"I think he's trying to apologize," Padmé said with a smile.

Vader apologize?

Vader?

"For what?" Sola hesitantly asked. Did she even want to know?

Padmé paused. Not sure how answer.

Sola held up her hand. "I don't want to know." Sola wanted to say more, but didn't know what else to say. There was no holo novel on what to do when your loved one married a famous murderer. "Be careful."

"I will," Padmé promised. "Love you."

"Love you too."

"Vader," Padmé called out.

"What?" Vader shouted back. He was in no mood to be interrupted. He was thinking.

He had a vision while meditating. The first since they went to Naboo. More importantly, it was all too similar to those visions.

He saw the Senator. Most significantly, he saw a bundle in her arms. Now, Vader wouldn't call himself the wisest being or Sith Lord- someday, but he knew what or more importantly who that was her arms.

This is what? The third vision where they had offspring.

Vader didn't have all answers, but he didn't believe in coincidences.

"I need your help."

Vader didn't move. Hoping she would figure whatever it is she needed out on her own. Also didn't she have a handmaiden to assist her? Why did he agree to let her live with them again?

"Please," She added.

Vader began stalking into her room. This had better good.

"Vader!" She shouted.

Vader made his gloved hands into fists.

Just because he let her off her leash this afternoon didn't mean she could just order him like some love-struck adolescent pup. He had limits. Yes, he let her get away with things he let no ordinary- no other being, really- get away with.

Was it because he was attracted to her? Maybe.

Fascinated by her? Possibly.

He had no idea.

Still, he wasn't going to let her yell at him like this. He...

Vader stopped.

"Sorry, for yelling, my dear."

She was wearing some sort of silk pair of bra and underwear.

Lingerie.

Vader's eyes widened. He didn't know much about fashion, but he knew what that was.

"You like it?" The Senator smirked. Her arms wrapped around his neck.

Vader nodded since he still couldn't speak.

Vader then realized he already had his arms around her. Pressing her against the wall for support.

Padmé smiled, "Really the flowers would have been enough, not that I'm complaining." Speaking with her sister and going shopping was more than she could asked for.

Vader had already ripped off his respirator. Yes, it slightly hurt when he ripped it off like that, though now he hardly noticed.

Vader then smashed his lips against Padmé's.

Padmé returned the kiss, forgiving him for the last few days.

Later that night...

They were lying in their secret chambers. They would have used the Senator's, but they had yet to fix the door. Also, Padmé was in no mood to be seen by Dormé or more importantly, scolded by her.

With his mask and robes off, Vader laid under the covers. She was in his arms. Resting against his chest. Running her fingers against his scars.

"Senator..." Vader whispered into her ear.

Force, she was so beautiful.

She looked up at him. Meeting his eyes. "Hmmm, isn't it time you called me Padmé?"

"Padmé?" He smiled as he craned his neck.

"At least when we're...intimately together," Said Padmé. "Publicly, you will still call me, Senator." As far as the rest of the Galaxy and Palpatine knew, nothing had changed between them.

"Agreed," Vader nodded. "Padmé." He liked that, calling her by her first name.

"Agreed," Padmé replied back then oddly paused. "Anakin." It was the first she ever used his former name. Probably the first time anyone had addressed by the name in a very long time.

Vader got very still. "What did you say?"

Padmé paused. She wanted to say something, but feared ruining this beautiful moment.

"Don't call me that." Vader said through clenched teeth. "That boy is dead."

Padmé didn't believe that for a second, but was too tired to argue. It could wait until tomorrow. Nor was Vader ready to hear such things.

"Just when we're alone," After all, he called her Padmé. It some ways Padmé, or at least that girl died years ago.

"And if you slip in public?"

"I'm a politician," The Senator pointed out. "I can't afford to make mistakes."

Vader couldn't argue with that. He doubted she or even Palpatine ever made such mistakes. Still, his answer was the same. "No." He did not feel comfortable.

"Very well," She was not in the mood to fight him on this. For now.

For now, they just enjoyed the moment.

Aw, what do you think?

Trivia: Shout out to Leia. I did something similar in Surprises: Unimaginable. Finally, a couple of Padmé's quotes are from Scandal.

Coming up: Padmé makes a discovery, and no, she's not pregnant. Yet.

Review please and please, no endless reviews and PMs about the characters' sex lives. I am not in the mood.