All through dinner, Vader had his eyes on Padmé who was busily moving around the table catering to the guests, but Vader's gaze followed her around and did not wander even when she disappeared inside the kitchen.
Seeing Padmé leave the room Ruwee tried to work up a conversation but he only got automated nods from his distracted son-in-law, who's eyes where now glued expectantly to the kitchen doorway, with a smile he gave up and concentrated on his lunch.
Even though Rabé's back was to the kitchen she knew when Padmé immerged back into the dining room, all she had to do was observe Vader, and the way his eyes lit up when he saw his wife come back into the dining room.
Padmé had a bowl of salad in her hands and began to serve them to the occupants at the table.
"I didn't come here to eat," Vader whispered closely in her ears as she bent to serve him the fresh salad.
"More salad," she smiled at him pretending she hadn't heard him. "How about some hot P'pers wrapped in a tight blue skirt?" Vader asked with a subtle wink.
Padmé stepped hard on his booted toe and smiled back casually, "Sorry we're out of hot P'pers but we have cool ronance roots fresh from the garden." Vader suppressed a yowl. "I'll get you for that." He muttured into her hair before she straightened up.
After lunch Rabé and the other girls took their leave. "Don't forget my advice." Rabé said digging a meaningful elbow into Padmé's ribs as she headed for the door. "And don't panic." She added as she slammed the door shut after them. When Padmé came back to the lounge she found Vader standing by the tall windows looking out over the lake.
"You have a beautiful house." Vader said turning to her. "You are very lucky to be able to take such beautiful things as this view from here for granted."
"Actually I really do treasure it a lot." Padmé said coming to stand by the window. "Career mostly kept me from appreciating it fully. And though the palace is endowed with no less scenic windows, I did miss seeing the Lake almost every day that I woke up away from it."
"All I got to see from my window was sand, litter and the ubiquitous reminders of poverty all around me." He said bitterly. "But I had dreams and not for a moment did I doubt them despite my …" He stopped short of saying the dreaded word that spelt enslavement.
"Would you like to take a walk in the garden?" Padmé said, placing her hand lightly on his hand that rested on the window sill, trying to distract him before he wondered into more sordid territory. He was angered easily she knew and she also knew that his past had something to do with it.
"Or we could go to the guest sitting room, the view there is even more spectacular." She suggested.
Vader suddenly turned to her and pierced her with his gaze. "The most spectacular view is right here before me." Vader said, placing one finger under her chin and gently tilting it up to him. "The most beautiful object in the world, all I want is to appreciate this beauty. Preferably someplace private where we will not be butted in at every turn." He said, wrapping his hands loosely around her waist.
Padmé blushed, both at the memory of their mother surprising them in the alcove and at the implication of what he was suggesting.
"Uhmm! Could you wait just a bit?" She said pressing her palms against his chest and pushing him away gently. Undoing his arms from around her waist she led him towards the guest sitting room. "Mother insists we have dessert first then you can have your privacy." Deliberately she avoided eye contact with him as she spoke.
Vader was just past the threshold of the sitting room when he stopped suddenly jerking her back mid stride. "I don't want to eat, he said firmly. Padmé stared back trying to gauge his mood.
"But it isn't proper to just walk into the bedroom; it is your first visit to my parent's house. Our custom requires that you sit a little while with them before…"
Vader shook his head and pulled her to him. "I don't have the time, Padmé I have to go." He hissed. It was obvious to her that he had barely, managed to be polite.
"Why?" She asked with more concern in her voice than she cared to show But Vader didn't reply. He had her imprisoned in his arms. Padmé struggled protesting the lack of privacy.
"OK, we skip the dessert and go straight to my room." She suggested finally seeing that he could not be talked out of his wish to be alone with her.
Reluctantly he relented and with a resigned sigh he loosened his iron hold around her waist. "I'll inform mother of the change of plans." Padmé told him as she extracted her self from his arms and headed for the kitchen.
When she came back Vader was lounged on the sofa, his long legs stretched out lazily before him.
Padmé put the bowl of dessert on the table and putting some in a smaller bowl she held it to her husband.
Vader yawned and stretched like a spent nixu and just gave her a bored look instead of taking the bowl from her. She drew nearer, suddenly he reached out-not for the bowl instead he grabbed her by the wrist, the bowl slipped from her hand and the fruit went flying across the carpet.
On impulse, Padmé began to struggle, pulling her hand away frantically but Vader just laughed at her vain efforts and pulled her into his lap imprisoning her in his solid arms. "I told you I'm not here for the food… or the fruit." He said hoarsely as he pressed his lips against the base of her neck.
"Please not here?" She pleaded. For an answer he flicked his hand and the door slammed shut and the lock clicked in place. "No one will be coming." he said. "But there is other..." She began but Vader pressed his lips furiously to hers effectively cutting off any further objections.
And again, against her will she found her self responding. Before long she had her fingers in his hair as he hungrily explored her mouth, neck and ears with his lips. Encouraged with her compliance he pushed her back onto the sofa. Padmé's eyes grew wide when he began to push her blouse aside.
"I don't think it's a good idea to…" She began.
"I don't think it's a good idea to deny me…again." Vader whispered in her ears. "Now if you could help me with this…" He hooked one finger through the back of her strap and tugged lightly at it.
Padmé shut her eyes and tried to breath. "Please!" He added bringing his mouth to touch her ears. Though it was a plea but it sounded more like an order, the tone of his voice had made it clear that he would not brook any more delays. Hesitantly she reached behind her back.
