A/N: This chapter will contain a bit of smut, so if you are offended, please refer back to the warning on the story description that shows this should be a mature audience story. I do have to give a shout out to Angie again for giving me a fantastic idea that you'll see in the story. With that being said, I sincerely hope that you enjoy this chapter!
The garden was becoming a refuge, a place where Padmé could find peace in the beautiful manor. Her capture would come and visit her, the both having pleasant conversations, instead of the dreadful fight that they had over a week ago. She didn't have the nerve to visit his room again, which was disappointing to her as she craved his touch, craved his everything. There was simply too much for her to bear, but she had to continue to work him, to find out who he was. She was a sharp politician, but he presented too much of a challenge. She knew he wasn't being honest, there was simply too much in common with him and Anakin and she was becoming entirely too suspicious.
After she completed her walk, she ventured into the library, determined to read the book she had originally intended. It was called the Ragamaga, translated into preserving one's soul through dark times. It was written by a Jedi, one that was apparently very powerful in the Force. But he fell to the darkness at one point, however using an ancient meditation, he was able to keep the darkness from completely irradicating his soul no matte how many dark acts he committed. Even while he was in the darkness, he could perform feats like no other Jedi, from healing bodies and minds using techniques that Padmé couldn't understand, let alone begin to fathom. He was truly a powerful Jedi.
But why would Vader keep a book like this in a library? It suggested that he had been reading on how to preserve his own soul, but why? He reveled in the darkness, never taking the time to be in the light, no matter how much he decided to act like it. It confounded her, made her wonder of him even deeper. If he was truly practicing this form of meditation, then that suggested that there was good in him. Or, he could simply have kept the book as it had other information in it, like the power to heal. Why would Vader need to heal anyone but himself?
She replaced the book on the shelf and went to the lectern, to Vader's journal, and saw that he had recently inked additional symbols in the ancient Sith language. What was he trying to see, what was he trying to write, what experiences had he recently had in the darkness that would cause him to write? She had to know. She searched the library for books in the language of ur-kittãt. But thus far she had no luck. She would probably have to find a dictionary that she could use to translate the symbols, but that would take ages to go through all of the books to find them.
"What are you looking for?", Vader asked, starting Padmé.
She could lie, she could make something up, but that wouldn't do. He detested when other's lied to him, instead when he was being cryptic as well. That irritated Padmé beyond belief He was a hypocrite in that regard.
"I was looking for a book that could help me translate ur-kittãt", she replied simply.
Vader chuckled dryly, which again stood out to her as it was all too familiar. "Why are you looking for such a book?"
Padmé hesitated. "Because I wanted to translate your journal", she said with a bit of apprehension in her voice. She didn't know if the Sith Lord would fly into a blind range at her curiosity. It seemed ineffable, but she simply couldn't explain the way she felt.
Vader barked a laugh. "Senator, there is no such thing. It is taught through a holocron that my master possesses and only shares with his apprentice. There isn't a way for you to translate it. Like I said there are only two people that know the language. Why would you want to read it anyway?"
She paused again, trying to think of a reason to lie, but she couldn't. "I wanted to read from your experiences. You're still a mystery to me, a mystery that I'm trying to crack. I feel like I'm so close to figuring you out and there's nothing that will stop me. Not a chance in hell, no matter how angry you ger", she said defiantly. "I care for you, yet despise you. I don't' want to despise you, at least not as much as I want to care for you."
Vader grunted, either not understanding her point of view or being afraid of what she was going to eventually find. "I understand your curiosity. Like I said, I will eventually unveil myself and cause you to learn more that answer all of your questions", he said.
"Maybe you can answer one now", Padmé said, wanting to get more information from the Sith Lord.
He pointed to the two chairs. "Have a seat and ask, I'll do my best to answer, depending on the question.
Padmé beamed a smile at him, which was rare. They both sat and Padmé braced herself for rejection. "I was curious as to why you had the book entitled as the Ragmaga. It seems as though it's a book that no Sith Lord would have unless you were trying to preserve your soul."
Vader passed again, lost in thought. "I've wanted to preserve my soul since I was a boy, under my master's tutelage. I never volunteered to learn the dark arts when I was much older, but the more I read the Ragnaga, I decided to preserve my soul until very recently, within the last few years.
"Did Anakin similarly want to preserve his soul?", Padmé asked. "When I met him on Kashyyyk, he seemed to be normal, not truly embracing the darkness. So tell me Vader, I know the two of you met. You are both so similar, so unique in the same way. Did you and he follow the same path?"
"Why all of these questions on a dead man?", Vader asked.
Why so many questions? Even he couldn't be so dense to not understand where she was coming from. "I'll ask you again later. I'm going to visit your bed chambers tonight, let's say after dinner?", she said.
Vader rubbed his chin. "I suppose that would be alright. I've missed your presence. I'll wait for you patiently."
…
At dinner time, Padmé did something unexpected; she wolfed down her entire meal, surprising her friend. "Well, I'm certainly glad to see your appetite is back, my friend", Dormé said. "But why the sudden change? Is it Vader? Did he command you to eat?"
Padmé shook her head. "No, he encouraged me to eat from the garden, asking me to keep my health up. It was caring, not commanding. Besides, I'm going to see him tonight, so I want to be extra sharp, as I'm going to confront him on a few things."
More than a few things. His identity, the Ragmaga, the stark similarities between him and Anakin, and what Anakin's fate was. Who he became, and who he really was. She was so close to the answer she could taste it.
"Padmé, that seems dangerous", Dormé said. "What if he hurts you?" That was a chance, but one that she was willing to take.
"Dormé, he agreed to have me come and ask him questions. He seemed as nervous as I, so there's no fault in him asking", she replied. She hoped she was right in that regard.
"Be careful, my dear", her friend said. "You're all that I have in this prison.
That was the truth. She wondered if Vader killed her, if he would set Dormé free given that she had no ties to the Rebellion. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. He didn't interact with her much, aside from a greeting, which was nice. She didn't need him watching over her like he watched over her. Then, she had a panicking thought run through her mind. What if Vader had other women on the side? What if he satiated his lust for her with some whores that he had access to? No, he had self gratified himself during after their encounters, which was a turn on.
Maybe this was a good idea. Maybe it wasn't.
"You're all that I have in this place as well, Dormé. I wouldn't leave you alone, I promise. Besides, I have that slinky nightgown that you bought me. I think it would give Vader a nice distraction, keeping him off guard", she said mischievously. "There's only one way to find out and that's to just bite my blaster so to speak and do it."
That's what it came down to, simply asking the gods damned questions and putting her thoughts to ease, once and for all. She wouldn't be able to progress with him any further if she didn't.
"Very well, my friend. Be careful."
…
Padmé looked at herself in the mirror. Her makeup and hair resembled someone who was going to attend a gala, her hair piled on top of her head and her makeup done to accent her fair skin, and her lipstick ruby red, quite similar to how it was when Vader came onto her at the gala.
She wore a black nightgown that left only a little to the imagination, making her blush. She had never worn such a nightgown before, her manner of dress always being conservative. She pulled on her robe and decided to go barefoot, her feet no longer able to stand the high heels that she had been wearing all day. Her feet were sore, and they needed a break as they were cramping. She remembered Anakin's foot massage, how it turned her on to the point where she ached for his touch before they made passionate love. She would never forget how he made her open her eyes when they made love, how intense it was. Oh well, that was a thing of the past.
Taking a deep breath, she left her room and padded to Vader's chambers in the east wing. Taking a moment for herself before she knocked. But as she raised her fist, the door opened, reveling Vader in full regalia. He paused to take in her beauty, and she could detect longingness in his heart, along with something else.
"Come in", he offered as he stepped aside.
She smiled and sat on his couch with poise. He joined her and poured themselves a drink. "I think it's time we both are honest with one another", she said as she accepted her drink. He froze before taking a long drink, setting his glass down. There was only a little left, signifying how nervous she was making him.
"Honest about what?", he growled. Good, he was being defensive. He would be easier to break down. She was a gods damned politician after all, that's what she did and she did it well.
"Honest about many things Milord, but the first is why you would have book called the Ragmaga. You seem to be cagey about the details. Were you trying to preserve yourself for a time, and if so, when did you cast it aside, that's if you did."
Vader sighed and sat back, obviously lost in thought. "I was just resistant. That's the best thing I can say. It allowed me to do my job and become familiar with women that I was interested in."
Padmé took a large sip of her drink to work up her courage. "Was I one of those women?", she asked.
He paused again, trying to think his way through the question. "Maybe when I first met you. I was enamored with you, wanting you desperately. That's why I came onto you at the ball."
"So, you never met me before the hallway?", she asked as she took another sip, already feeling a slight buzz from the bourbon.
"I met you in the hallway of course", Vader said.
Ha, the was certainly being deflective. That was interesting given he didn't want to lie. She was so close; she could taste it.
Suddenly, a foot cramp nearly caused her to double over in pain. "Oh gods, I wore those heels too damned much today, now my feet are aching", she said honestly.
Vader looked down at her feet and she wished that she could see his face to see if he was really concerned. "I suppose I could give you a foot rub", he said honestly. That made Padmé even more curious. Only one another man had offered to rub her feet and she hadn't seen him in years.
"Are you certain? Not many people would want to do that.", she said.
He looked up at her. "I'm not most people, Senator", he said. "Come on, put your feet on my lap."
There it was, her trap had been set and she was hook line and sinker away from getting him to admit who he was. She placed her feet on his lap and he immediately began to work her feet, kneading the muscles and bones on her feet and ankles. She let loose a moan, unable to control herself.
Her whimpers continued as he tenderly worked his way to his calves. "Where in the hell did you learn to do this?"
"I've done it before", Vader mumbled.
Padmé figured that it was now or never. She braced herself, knowing that there would be no point of return once she did it.
"I know you have, Anakin", she whispered.
Vader froze, unable to move. He ceased his kneading and looked up at her sharply. "What did you call me?", he hissed. Fuck, he was angry. But she had to push it, because it was now or never.
"I called you Anakin, because that's who you are. You can't deny it. You've said things that only he has said. You've called me gorgeous. You almost called me an angel. You give massages, and you saved me from prison, much like you saved me from the hells of Kashyyyk, where you admitted that you've been to several times. Go on and take the fucking hood off, we both know that we're past that now", she said forcefully, moving her feet from his lap and sitting up straight on the couch, ready to take him on.
"Those things are coincidental", Vader growled.
Padmé took a deep breath and undid her robe. "Anakin, I need you. Please just take the hood off", she whispered.
"Oh gods", Vader said as he looked at her scantly clad body.
"I had meant to tell you in a few weeks", Vader said. "Very well."
In one smooth motion, he took his hood off, revealing his handsome face. Padmé scooted over to him closer. "I was hoping that I'd see you, Anakin. You look older like me, but very handsome. I see a few more scars, but still the same man that saved me from the shadowlands. The same man that made love to me, and said that I would meet him again, just that I wouldn't like what he saw. But I do like what I see. I may still feel hatred for what you've become, but I know longer feel rage towards you.", she said softly.
Padmé reached out to touch his face and he flinched. She moved slower, as if she was trying to tame a wild animal. When she touched him, he sucked in a breath.
"You're the only man that I have ever loved", she whispered. "No one else has even come close to you."
Vader swallowed. "I hope that I can live up to your expectations", He said. "It would be unkind of me to rip your heart out given who I've become", he said. "I am shocked at your reaction, at your intuitiveness."
okay, that was the sweetest thing that she had ever heard of. "Ani", she whispered. "I can handle it, as long as you work with me in this relationship.
A single tear ran down his face. "Angel, I'll do my best", he said as he grabbed her and pressed his lips against her deeply" The kiss lasted well over a minute and their desire for one another increased by so much. "I want to make love to you."
That made Padmé's pulse quicken. After so many years, she was going to feel his touch. She didn't know if it would be the same as last time, if he would be rough with her, based on his previous actions with her as he was now full of rage and hate, even after admitting he cared for her, he was possessive and somewhat violent in his touches, but violence that made her quiver in excitement.
"Well", she smiled, "I didn't wear this gods damned nightgown for nothing."
That was all the encouragement that Vader needed. He scooped her up with both arms and carried her to the bed. Butterflies appeared in her stomach and she felt nervous at the same time. Her pulse was throbbing in her ears. She knew that she was about to be taken, for the first time in a long time, by the only man that she considered to be a true man. The one that prevented her from forming lasting connections with other men. Men that never could compare to him.
Vader laid next to her, expectantly. He was going to fuck her into oblivion, and she couldn't wait.
"Just so you know", she whispered, "I still hate who you've become, but I'm falling for you in the most wonderful of ways." It was the truth, it had to be said.
"I know", he whispered back. "Maybe one day you won't hate who I've become, but I relish the fact that you're falling for me, as I've always been falling for you."
That made a tear run down her cheek. After three years he still cared for her. That's why during their argument, he told her that he still cared about her.
She tensed slightly as he caressed her face, anticipating him to grab her throat, but he didn't. His hand trailed down to her breasts which were partially exposed by her nightgown. He kneaded them, causing her to moan in pleasure. With his other hand, he roughly began pulling the nightgown down, eager to touch her flesh without the barrier. She helped him by pushing it down, until it was at her thighs. He pulled it off of her and roughly kissed her. She moaned into the kiss, she was becoming more experienced in moving her lips to match his ferocity, to using her tongue to caress his eagerly. The intimacy of the kiss was overwhelming, especially if he was so damned ready to take her.
When they broke, she was breathless, but aware enough to notice he was still heavily clothed. "You better get out of that Sith attire right now", she said huskily. He smirked and began tearing off his clothes, throwing them off the bed until he was nude. His member was standing straight at attention and she grasped it, causing him to moan. Remembering the last time they had sex, she shoved him to her back and got on her knees.
She bent down and grabbed him again, this time a little rougher than the last time. She was hungry for him, she needed him. She bent down and took him into her mouth, letting her tongue taste him. She slowly pumped her hand, causing his body to stiffen. She chuckled as she had him in her mouth, and pushed herself down further, nearly choking on his size. She repeated the motions with her mouth and hand, enjoying him withering. She was pleasing a Sith Lord in one of the most intimate ways possible.
It was nearly surprising when Vader gently grabbed her head and began to thrust into her mouth. She was shocked, never knowing that was such a thing, but allowed him to use her mouth as he would use her sex. He continued to thrust, then tensed up as he began to spasm. She felt the warm liquid spurt into her throat and did her best to swallow, unsure as to what else to do. His hands fell from her face, and his body relaxed.
"Well, that was interesting", she said as her body shook in shock but still full of desire. "What do we do now?"
Vader chuckled. "Your lack of experience is such a turn on. I'm going to show you exactly what I'm going to do. Put her hand back on me and get me ready again."
Somehow, she knew what he meant and began to pump him slowly. Eager to see him erect again. He moaned at the overstimulation and she smirked, knowing that she was doing this to him. This was similar, yet different from the last time that they made love. It was more graphic, wilder. It terrified her, but it made her so turned on at the same time. When he was ready, he sat up and kissed her passionately, making her groan as she shook with desire.
How could he be so insatiable, so lustful. She felt a bit of hurt knowing that he must have had other women in order to be so experienced, but she reminded herself that she had a man, well if she could call him that, after him, and would have had other men had they been patient enough. Then there was the first man that had ever bedded her. She shook off her jealousy and focused on him. Allowed his kisses to fulfill her.
She felt Vader wrap his arms around her and guide her onto her back. She sucked in a deep breath, knowing what was to come. Knowing that she would have to be patient that his size would temporarily cause her pain. She silently prayed that he would be tender as last time, letting her get used to him while he was buried in her core. She shivered as he rolled on top of her, and had a flashback as his member teased her core.
Padmé's breath became heavy as he braced himself over her with his elbows.
"Don't worry Padmé, this is going to be an experience that you'll enjoy immensely. I'll do my best to control myself, but you're so tempting, so precious", Vader said.
"Do… Do whatever you want to me", she whispered, wanting him to be fulfilled, wanting to feel whatever he desired. Knowing that she would be satiated as well.
"That's all you needed to say", Vader growled. With that, he bent down and kissed her as he simultaneously entered her, causing her to scream into his mouth as he buried himself deep inside of her, feeling his pelvis against hers.
As she had hoped, he waited for her to adjust to him. Ensuring that she was comfortable through the experience.
He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. "I may be a little rougher, but I still know what you need", he whispered.
All Padmé could do was nod. Still overwhelmed from him. After a minute, she was ready, and he instinctively began thrusting into her, slow at first, but then rapidly increasing his pace to where she began to whimper and arch her back as he worked himself deeply inside of her. She let out a cry as he began to furiously hammer himself in and out, taking her roughly.
"I said I was going to be a little rough", he murmured.
"I know, I love it", she managed to say between short breathes. "Please, take me however you want. I need you." She had a feeling of what that would entail, but she was under his control now, under his care.
Padmé nearly flinched when she heard Vader growl loudly as he propped himself up with his left arm as he continued to pound her mercilessly. He grabbed her throat with a roughness that she had never felt and squeezed the sides of her neck. She burst into euphoria as the blood was cut off from her brain, sending her into ecstasy.
"This is what you need", he said harshly. "This is what you've been craving."
She could barely hear him as she began to feel numb. Just before she passed out, he released his grip, and she began to convulse in the most wonderful of ways. She was having an orgasm. Her entire body tightened and she heard him roar in pleasure as she clenched down on him. She vaguely felt him pulse inside of her, emptying himself inside of her for the second time that night.
As before, he collapsed onto her. His weight crushing her into the mattress. As the stars in her vision subsided, she felt herself crying, unable to control herself. It was such a wonderful experience, but she felt that she had given him everything, and prayed that he would give her everything.
Padmé felt him raise his head and began to kiss her tears from her cheeks. What a wonderful man, so rough, yet so tender at the same time.
"Don't cry", he whispered. "We belong to each other now. You figured me out, and this means we are bound together, no matter what."
The gentleness in her voice made her choke out a sob and he rolled her to their sides, and she felt herself being clutched tightly. "I've given you everything", she whispered. "I want everything from you, even the parts that terrify me."
She felt him tense up. Oh gods, he wasn't going to give her anything. Had this been a colossal mistake?
"Everything that I am, will be yours", he whispered hoarsely. "Of that, I swear to you. You will see that I am a man that is true to my word, and nothing will change that."
Force, she could tell that he meant it. What a wonderful man that he was able to be able to pledge such a thing to her. It filled her with joy and fear and the same time, but that's what she asked for, and he was going to give it to her.
"I will please you, I promise", Padmé whispered.
Vader chuckled with mirth. "You already have, Senator. You already have."
They stayed like that for the longest time, clutching one another, not wanting to let go. They had bonded again, and it felt wonderful, except this time, they weren't going to part from one another. They weren't going to run away from each other. Padmé was still his prisoner, but for the first time in the weeks she had been there, she began to feel hope for the future.
"We should probably get some sleep", Vader grunted. That was probably a good idea, Padmé was too exhausted to do anything else.
"I agree, I just can't move", she said, still exhausted from their rough lovemaking.
Vader laughed, a full bellied laugh and she looked up at him in surprise. She had never herd him laugh like that, even during their excursion to the shadowlands. Then, she felt herself be lifted slightly in the air and giggled as the covers were pulled back. She looked up at him and he had his eyes half closed, concentrating as he levitated them off the bed. They were lowered and Padmé felt the sheets and comforters pile on them.
"Sleep well", Vader said hoarsely.
"You too", she murmured as she felt a wave of sleep that she had never felt before crash into her. Maybe it was him, but maybe it wasn't. She passed out, not wanting to have her eyes open any longer, but needing to be entangled with him.
…
As the sun shown through the windows in Vader's bedchambers, Padmé awoke to Vader snoring loudly. He either always snored or he was simply exhausted from last night. Padmé couldn't help but grin silly at the fact that she had been the first to wake up after their night of lovemaking. She couldn't move as she was still entangled in his arms, which she didn't mind at all. Her plan of revealing to him that she knew who he was had worked perfectly. Vader didn't fight her, he didn't explode at her, he accepted it and had shown her the face that she had missed.
It was something out of a romance novel, but it was real. It was her life. She didn't know how that would affect her, but she knew that there would be some changes since they made love. Would she move into his bedchambers, or would he want his privacy? Either way, they were so close to one another, so it wasn't a great concern.
What was more of a pressing question was whether or not she would remain a prisoner here. She supposed that she would, that she would be forced to continue to live here, and that saddened her, but there was still hope that he would let her be free again under certain stipulations of course.
She focused on his face. He didn't look like a Sith Lord, he looked like a teenaged boy, needing his sleep as he had spent the entire night out with friends. She felt her lips tug into a smile and leaned forward to give him a gentle kiss and he moaned slightly.
It was obvious that there was still hatred in her heart for his duties and the Emperor, but she didn't know what to do about that. The Empire was evil, crushing the Rebellion. But on further consideration, she had been abandoned by them, forced to fend for herself and be arrested and thrown into Vader's custody. That was a betrayal that she couldn't stand for, no matter what her feelings towards Vader were.
Padmé's stomach growled and she knew that she needed to eat, especially after last night's activities. She planted another kiss on Vader's lips, trying to wake him up this time.
"Okay, okay, I'm getting up", he murmured as he tightened his grasp on her. When he opened his eyes and looked at her, he smiled. "So, it wasn't a dream, Angel."
"No, it wasn't, Ani", she replied. "It was one of the greatest experiences of my life."
"Me too", he whispered, which made her heart melt.
"I'm hungry, but not for sex", she giggled, needing to make certain he knew what she meant, so his member wouldn't spring to life, needing to take her again.
Vader gave one of those damned smirks that she remembered from their time on the untamed planet and in the shadowlands. "Maybe later this evening we can have a repeat performance, if you're up to it of course."
"Maybe we can", Padmé said as she kissed him again, this time as gentle as a breeze. Gods, he was so irresistible. He made her shiver with excitement just by being in her presence.
He suddenly frowned. "If we're going to go eat, you might want to slip into your room and put something appropriate on."
That made Padmé raise her eyebrows in surprise. "You're going to join us?" She couldn't believe her ears. Surely, he had been mistaken in his articulation.
"Of course, you know the truth about me, and it's not like Dormé will tell anyone", he said with a chuckle.
That made Padmé feel a pang of guilt that Dormé was a prisoner as well. "I suppose that's correct", she replied. Maybe she could negotiate some better terms for her friend now that she and Vader were becoming lovers.
"Alright", Vader growled half heartedly. "Let's get ready."
Padmé nodded before she gave him a final quick kiss before she shot out of the bed, retrieving her robe and wrapping it tightly around her. She grabbed her nightgown that had been tossed aside and slipped out of Vader's room, silently padding to her room. She undid the pins from her hair and quickly washed her face before she applied some light makeup. She went to her closet and chose a blue sundress as she had every intention on following her routine and getting back outside. She selected a pair of four inch heals that would certainly make her feet hurt, but figured that Vader would be able to give her a foot massage later. After she was dressed, she walked to the lift where Vader was waiting for her.
"You women and the amount of time it takes you to get ready", he mumbled.
"Take it as a compliment, Milord. You wouldn't want me running around looking like I just got out of having some delicious sex, now would you?", she asked.
Vader groaned. "Please, Senator, don't get me in the mood so early."
Padmé giggled and Vader chuckled.
They took the lift down and dutifully walked to the dining room where Dormé was waiting, with her head in her hand.
"Good morning, Dormé", Padmé said cheerfully.
"Padmé, good –", she froze. She shot to her feet at the sight of Vader, without his hood covering his face. "Milord, good morning as well."
Vader waived her off. "It's alright, I know that the there will be much to explain, but I'm certain that Padmé can fill you in on the details", Vader said gruffly, clearly not wanting to get into it himself.
Padmé giggled at Vader's response and they sat down with Vader at the head of the table.
Threepio came in to announce that breakfast would be ready in a few minutes. "Oh my word!", he exclaimed. "Master, are you aware that your hood is down, thus exposing your true self?"
Vader rolled his eyes. "No, Threepio. I didn't notice, but I might as well keep it down, seeing how they have already seen me."
Threepio paused, unsure as what to say.
"Well", Vader said impatiently. "Bring us our meals when they are ready."
"Oh, of course!", Threepio said as he wandered back into the kitchen, ready the meals.
Once breakfast was served, the trio ate their breakfast in a somewhat awkward silence. Dormé appeared uncomfortable and Padmé didn't know if it was because Vader had unveiled himself or if she was uncomfortable that Padmé seemed to have consummated the relationship with Vader, but if she was, it was going to be an issue between the two, which Padmé loathed. Her friend would need to be happy for her regardless of what concerns she felt. Padmé had been reunited with the man that she had developed intense feelings for years ago. While she still had concerns herself of the relationship, they were her concerns, not her friend's.
After breakfast, Dormé went to her room, mumbling that she needed a little more rest, leaving Padmé and Vader by themselves.
"I suppose your friend has some misgivings about our relationship", Vader growled, which made Padmé want to wince.
"Possibly, but I'll deal with it, Milord", she said.
Vader grunted. "I have some business to attend to today, I'll be back later this evening. Is that acceptable?", he asked.
Padmé wondered what kind of business that Vader had that he needed to attend to, but figured that if he wanted to share, he would have. It was probably something that would make her nervous anyway. There were still things that she would need to get used to about his duties as a Sith Lord.
"Alright", she said in a demurred voice. "I'll find something to occupy myself while you're gone. I've been getting better at that since this is my permanent home after all."
Vader growled and grabbed her roughly, causing her to yelp in surprise. "This may not be your permanent home after all. I can't explain it any further than that, but there are things that I have been considering that will require you to accept something that you may not wish to. I will go into further detail later on, but for now, things will remain the same. Don't lose hope."
With that, he bent down and gave her a searing kiss that made her mind spin. What did he mean by that? She felt her pulse quicken at the suggestion that she wouldn't have to live here forever, but at the same time, she didn't know how that would affect her newfound relationship with Vader. Why was everything so confusing?
Vader pulled away from her. "I'll be back this evening", he said roughly.
"Yes, Milord", Padmé replied with a smile.
With that, Vader left and Padmé stood alone, wondering what the hell she was going to do during his absence.
…
Pushing herself to the limit, Padmé speared through the water at a quick breaststroke, needing to work out her nervousness in the easiest way possible. There were many changes in her life now, changes that she would be unable to change if she wanted to continue down this path, which she wanted to with all her heart. Yes, she still hated what Vader did to the galaxy, but she absolutely knew that she didn't hate him anymore. Her heart told her to care for him, not be against him any longer. If this was the case, then she would need to set aside her feelings and embrace him for who he was.
She pushed those thoughts aside and focused on her workout, needing to feel the energy bleed off her. When she hit fifty laps, she clung to the edge of the pool, absolutely breathless. She looked up and found Dormé standing there, waiting for her. Padmé pulled herself from the water and braced herself for endless questions from her friend.
"Padmé, I believe that we should have a talk", Dormé said as she handed Padmé a towel.
She wrapped the towel around herself and headed to a bench against the wall. "Well, what would you like to talk about, Dormé?", she asked.
"Did you find out more about Lord Vader to decide to have sex with him?", Dormé asked. Of course, she did. While she had been tempted to rip her clothes off many times before, she had always resisted, knowing that she had hatred towards him and for what he did.
"Yes. I found out that he was none other than Anakin. He admitted it after I confronted him, and then we made love. It wasn't a gentle experience, but it was one that was necessary", Padmé said, hoping that wouldn't bring a slew of new questions.
"So in other words, he mauled you like an animal", Dormé said with a huff.
"I wouldn't say mauled, but he wasn't entirely gentle. Just enough to get me used to him, but really, it's fine. I'm not being abused and am entering into this willingly", Padmé said, suddenly growing tired of the interrogation.
"Well, what is going to happen? Is he going to keep you here as his lover for all eternity?", Dormé asked, still not certain that this was a good idea.
"I don't know, Dormé", Padmé replied. "Before he left, he said something about that, so I will have to see what it means. Btu it may mean that it won't always be the case. You have to trust me on this. I'm not blindly entering this based on lust. If he wasn't the Anakin from so long ago, it would've taken me a lot more to jump into bed with him so he could have his way with me. I need you to understand that, I need you to respect that."
Dormé looked to the ground, obviously conflicted as to what to say next. "I will respect it, but it will still make me nervous, Padmé. It should make you nervous as well."
"It does", Padmé whispered. "But at the same time, it makes me want him even more." It was the full truth.
"Alright, my friend. I'll leave you to it then", Dormé said as she walked off, leaving Padmé lost in thought.
Padmé was a woman of principles. Principles that had been unwavering enough to have gotten her into this predicament, no matter how much she was happy that Vader had turned out to be the Anakin that she had been with so long ago. It made her want to scream and tear her hair out. None of this was fair. Had she not joined the Rebellion, there would have been an easier path to Vader's heart. Had she taken the hard stance, she would be in a cold cell right now, unable to do anything more than cry herself to sleep every night with no one to know where she was.
There had to be some way she could compromise her principles just enough to accept whatever Vader had in mind so she could potentially have some freedom again. But the sad truth was, there was a part of her that didn't want freedom at all. There was a part of her that just wanted Vader.
A/N: I was hoping to have made this chapter longer, but it would have been repetitive. Finally, Padmé and Vader/Anakin are together again, but it looks like they'll still face some challenges. These challenges will appear in chapters later on, so I hope you stick with the story and share with your friends that are into Vaderdala. I'm green with the different forms out there, so if someone could leave me a not where I can self promote, I would appreciate it. Again, looking for at least one hundred followers, but I think that the first chapter is throwing some people off based on the clicks that the data set is giving me.
Regardless of all that, if you liked the chapter, please consider dropping a review and following!