Padme gasped, jumping forward to close the door only to have him force it open wider, striding through and slamming it shut behind him. She screamed. Quickly, the hooded man lunged forward and forced his hand over her mouth, pushing her back against the couch and laughing scornfully. "Are you really surprised at my coming, my sweet?" His voice was tinged with honey. "Even you, my dense little angel, must have gotten all the signs."
"Mhhmm . . . ! Hfmm . . . ! Anafmm . . . !"
"Help! Anakin!" he mocked. "Don't call your little Jedi. He won't come."
Padme broke free, gasping for breath. "Yes. He. Will." she snarled. "And where are my children?!" She grabbed at his throat. "Where?!"
He laughed, grabbing her hands in one of his and forcing them behind her back, pulling out a holorecorder with the other. He pressed a button. "Mom! You okay?" Static. "Mom! You okay?"
Padme snarled again, trying to bite at his hand. He chuckled at her attempts, pulling it out of her reach. "Your dear children are so worried about you it was quite easy to get this recording. And your dear children care so much about people that they are quite occupied at the moment. I doubt they'll realize a thing before you're gone." He leered at her. "And we'll have so much fun in the meantime, hmm?"
"How dare you!" she yelled. "I am a esteemed, respected senator! Besides, I don't even know who the kriff you are! What did I ever do to you?!"
He stepped closer. "You'll remember soon enough." He growled. "And you'll pay for all the mistakes you made and all the pain you inflicted." He forced himself against her, only to reel back in pain, shrieking in agony. The handle of a tiny pocketknife sprouted from his right arm, red slowing leaking through the sleeve of his cloak. Padme sprinted to the door, screaming. Suddenly, he was before her, throwing her to the ground and locking it firmly behind him. He dragged a huge decorative stone in front of the door. "The apartments are soundproof, remember?" he snarled. "Thanks to the spoiled taste of you fancy-pantsy politicians."
Padme scrambled to her feet, but was thrown violently to the floor again. She cried out in pain, clutching her shoulder. Oh Anakin! Although outwardly defiant, desperation was setting in, fear rolling over her like a wave as she heard the loud screech and rumble of machines and droids outside and a huge smattering of applause downstairs. There was no way anyone would hear her with whatever was going on! And her blaster . . . it was all the way in her bedroom. Anakin! Please come and get me . . .
Dropping the holorecorder, the man pulled out a gag, muffling her screams. As he pulled out a rope, Padme grabbed at his legs, trying to shove him over. He evaded her attempts, deftly knotting her hands together behind her back. "What's with the fight, my love?" His fake sorrow made her gag. "I thought you loved me!"
She spit the gag out, retching. "I would never love a monster like you!"
"Oh, really?" he sneered. "You seemed like it many a times." He stroked her cheek. She cringed away from it, but he pushed her down, forcing her legs open and settling in between them. "And now, you'll finally get to show me . . . "
She struggled against him. "Who the kriff are you, you kriffing bastard!"
He held something up, small and silver. "You don't at least remember this, my sweet? The kiss you enjoyed so much?"
Padme gasped. "My comlink! You-You . . . I can't remember your name!"
He snarled. "How dare you!" He jerked off his hood, revealing dark curls and green eyes.
"Maximilian!" She paused, smirking. "Or, Maxiass, as my children called you."
He slapped her across the face. "You'll learn your place!"
"What do you even want from me?!" she spat. "You're just a random guy I met on the street!"
"Oh, really?!" he growled. "Think again!"
She looked into his green eyes, struggling to remember . . .
. . . the anger in them . . .
*Flashback*
He grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the couch.
She tugged her hand away lightly. "What are you doing?"
"Don't you love me, Padme?" he pleaded. "Why are you holding back from me? Don't you want me like I want you?" He kissed her passionately, his hands moving over her curves.
She pushed him away, gasping for breath. "No," she said, kindly but firmly. "I'm sorry, I'm not ready."
He pushed her to the wall, his hands moved down to her thighs, massaging them forcefully. "I know you want this, Padme! Why are you teasing me like this?" He shoved himself up against her, seizing her lips in hers.
She jerked herself away, harshly now. "I said no!"
His green eyes were bright, angry. "So all your declarations of love were bantha fodder?"
"No, no." Padme grabbed his hands, looking at him earnestly. "I'm just . . . I'm not ready, okay? Can you respect that?"
He softened, his furious demeanor smoothing away. "I'm sorry, love. I understand." His eyes lit up. "Ice cream, on me?"
She giggled, relieved the fighting had passed. "Sounds good!"
*End of Flashback*
. . . the forceful lips, hands on her body . . .
. . . the harsh and desperate voice . . .
*Flashback*
Padme tugged on his arm. "Can we go somewhere private, please?"
"Of course," he said eagerly, not bothering to hide the sexual thoughts obviously in his mind. He grabbed her hand. "Let's go!"
They exited the restaurant, heading out onto the private terrace. The moon was full, shining onto the garden glittering in the dark night. Padme walked over to the railing, gazing out at the brilliant lights of Coruscant. The roar of speeders filled the air, with the distance sounds of the hustle and bustle several hundred stories beneath them the only other thing to fill the otherwise quiet garden. His breathing growing heavier, he grabbed her from behind, pulling her to him. He went to kiss her, but was halted by her restraining hand on his shoulder. "I-I," she hesitated. "I just had to talk to you."
"Yes?" he asked, the frustration and annoyance clear in his eyes.
"We can't do this anymore," she said, looking up at him. "I-I'm so sorry. I don't feel anything, any spark between us. If we were to continue this relationship, it would be a total lie. I don't want to do that to you."
"You love me, Padme!" he cried, grabbing her hands and looking desperately into her eyes. "I know you do! You always have, ever since we met!"
"No," she said sadly. "I thought I did, but . . . I don't. Whatever I might have felt in the past is gone. I'm sorry."
"No." He pulled her flush up against him. "I won't accept that. You love me." He tightened his grip on her wrists, tight enough to leave bruises. She cried out in pain, trying to pull away, but it was no use. "Say it," he growled. "Tell me you love me and I'll forget everything else you've said."
She continued to fight. "Let me go!"
"No."
Tears sprung to her eyes as the pain in her wrists increased. "Get your hands off me! I don't belong to you!"
"You do," he growled.
"I believe I just broke up with you!"
He stepped even closer to her, until he was practically breathing down her neck. "Say that again," he threatened, "and you will regret it." He twisted her arms behind her back. "Say that you love me, and I'll release you."
"Never!"
His eyes glowed with fury. "How dare you . . . you've been playing with me this whole time, have you? Holding back from me for so long, saying you wanted to "wait", and then just cutting it off?"
"No, no!" she cried, looking pleadingly at him. "I loved you! I really did!" She took a deep breath. "I thought you loved me . . . " She paused, dropping her gaze to the side. "Then when you kept trying to force yourself on me . . . I knew. You're not the man I thought you were. I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Padme," he growled. "You owe me for all those months of torture!" He seized her mouth in his, biting her lip. She struggled, breaking free.
"No!" she cried angrily. "These acts are supposed to be done in love, not revenge! Let me go!"
He smirked. "Oh, I know you love me, Padme. You just don't know it yet." He bit her neck harshly, making her cry out in pain. "This is the only way I can finally make you realize just how much you want me."
She pushed against his chest. "Let. Me. Go!"
He moved his lips to her ear, breathing threateningly. "If you struggle, it will just make it worse." He caressed the underside of her breast. "You don't want it to be painful, do you? You want the pleasure I can give you." He pressed her harder to the wall. "And the more you fight, the more impatient I'm going to get . . . I'm not going to want to fulfill your needs if you hold off mine too long, hmm?"
"You monster," she snarled. "You're going to regret this."
"Oh no, my sweet." He leered at her. "I'm going to enjoy this very much."
He grabbed her breasts, squeezing them hard. She screamed for help, but he silenced her with his mouth, tightening a hand on her neck. He moved his hand down, ripping her dress off her shoulders. Padme closed her eyes in horror as the cold air hit her. She was in shock. This was not how she imagined her first time was going to be . . .
The door burst open. "Security!" someone shouted. "Assault in the terrace!"
Guards rushed outside, pulling them apart, him cussing in rage and her with tears of humiliation and anger streaming down her cheeks . . .
*End of Flashback*
(*drumroll please* you're welcome, it's finally here!)
"You," she snarled. "Palo Jemabie."
(I'd honestly love to know what you guys thought and who you thought it was!)
Anakin lounged in the cockpit, his feet up on the dashboard and his arms behind his head. He couldn't wait to see Padme. Hold her in his arms again, know she was safe and all right . . .
He sighed. He missed her. Yanking his feet off the controls and pulling out of light speed, he laughed darkly, shaking his head. How did he ever make it through so long without her? And telling himself she didn't matter, that his love for her was dead with his old self? What a pathetic attempt of a facade. Everything he said to himself after her death was all total bantha fodder.
Swooping towards the planet, he let his thoughts leave the dark times of Darth Vader and settle on his wife. Anakin smiled contentedly as he remembered her sweet smile, worry for his safety, her pretty laugh and the feel of her in his arms . . .
He reached out into the Force, wondering what she was doing- if he could properly surprise her.
How did he get in?! Where is Luke and Leia? Are they okay? Oh Anakin! Help! . . . Ugh, you idiot bastard, of course Anakin will come! And get your filthy hands off of me!
He could feel the waves of fear washing over her, and it filled him with fury. Across the room, a glass shattered, and the ship began to vibrate violently. Electricity buzzed around him, along the walls and overheard. Anakin gripped the console, trying to control his raging emotions. "Focus," he growled. "I'm going to save Padme, not blow up the ship." He pushed on the accelerator, swerving violently through the masses of ships, not caring in the least about traffic laws. I'm coming, Padme! he called through the Force, trying to send some comfort and assurance to calm her terrified nerves. I'm coming for you, I promise! And when I'm done with that little piece of bantha fodder . . . Anakin smashed his fist into the wall, sending sparks flying. He'll wish he never existed, let alone laid a hand on my angel . . .